The Orange party leader Raila Odinga has called for dialogue between him and President William Ruto over proposed key constitutional changes.

President Ruto had proposed amendments to the Constitution to create Office of the Leader of Official Opposition and that of Chief Cabinet Minister.

In his fresh demands to the President, Raila expressed his disappointment with the Head of State for initiating constitutional amendments through Parliament, yet he rejected the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Speaking in Mombasa after a church service at the ACK Cathedral Church yesterday, Raila, however, said before any talks regarding the Constitution are done, the truth must be known about what transpired at Bomas during the outcome of the August 9 General Election.

President Ruto has created the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary currently being held by Amani National Congress leader (ANC) Musalia Mudavadi.

“President Ruto knows that everything he is proposing is in the BBI document, if he wants us to talk, let us start from there, you must engage the people of Kenya in any major constitutional amendment that you want to bring,” Raila said.

The former Premier, who started his tour of Mombasa on Friday, questioned Ruto’s sincerity in calling for the creation of the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.

According to Raila, had Ruto been honest with BBI proposals, everything he suggested in the memorandum would have been actualised.

He argued that Ruto should have sought views of the public through the popular initiative to determine whether they want the Office of the Leader of Opposition and that of Prime Cabinet Secretary created.

Raila was responding to the latest memorandum in Parliament after Ruto wrote to Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, asking them to consider the introduction of a constitutional amendment Bill to set up Office of the Official Opposition leader.

He said it is uncalled for, for President Ruto to change the Constitution through bringing standing orders in Parliament, a process he says requires a constitutional process like BBI.

“You can’t bring ministers into Parliament by changing standing orders. Nobody will allow you to do that because that is a fundamental departure from the structure of government that we have today. It has to be debated extensively by the people of Kenya,” Raila said.

Former Prime Minister termed it an embarrassment for Mudavadi to accept a title instead of a portfolio knowing very well that it is against the Constitution.

Proper portfolio

“If you want to create the position of Prime Minister, it’s in the BBI. Why do you call him Chief Prime Cabinet Secretary? Call him Prime Minister and give him proper portfolio,” he said.

He added: “Actually I am very sorry for Musalia Mudavadi. A person of his stature is given a position without a portfolio. It is actually an embarrassment.”

Raila at the same time downplayed any power struggle within Azimio, affirming that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is still the Coalition Council chairman.

He clarified that there is no internal strife between him and wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who has on three occasions supported him for the presidency.

Further he explained that Uhuru is still in control of the coalition and has not announced any plans to resign as the chairman, and thus told Azimio supporters not to be distracted by unfounded claims from the media. Raila confirmed that he has been in constant conversation with the former President, saying: “I have talked to the former President this morning, and he has not given me any impression that he is going to resign from Azimio. That is sheer media propaganda. Uhuru is very much a member and part and part of Azimio leadership.”

“There is nothing like a power struggle in Azimio, with Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta and Martha Karua. We are working very closely. We are going to strengthen Azimio. Everything will be done smoothly as we work together,” he stated.

His sentiments come at a time when the coalition has been faced with a myriad of challenges.

Besides talks that Uhuru could soon resign as Azimio chairman, Kalonzo has also hinted at plans to quit the coalition to enable him prepare for the 2027 presidential elections, which he has said he will be contesting.

Kalonzo, who is eying the leader of Official Opposition, has occasionally told his supporters that he is the man to beat in 2027.

He has indicated his intention to inherit Raila’s political strongholds – Western, Nairobi and Coastal regions to battle it out against Ruto.

“This time round, there is nothing to stop me from becoming the President of Kenya. Ruto is the only obstacle and he knows it,” Kalonzo told supporters in one of his rallies last November.

And at the press conference, Raila said the country is going through serious challenges ranging from famine, drought, flood and rising cost of living and thus asked the church to pray for the nation. He reiterated that he would soon pronounce his next political move.