The President of Kenya, William Ruto has declared that he is now ready to meet opposition leader Raila Odinga ‘anytime’ after many months of anti-government protests that have now sparked international alarm amid calls for dialogue.
In a post addressing Odinga on Twitter, Ruto said; ‘As you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience’.
Africa Today News, New York reports that critics have continued to accuse Ruto of raising taxes as the country buckles under spiralling inflation and of rowing back on promises made during the August 2022 election campaign, when he declared himself the champion of impoverished Kenyans and pledged to improve their economic fortunes.
The administration of Ruto claims that in order to fund job development programs and deal with rising debt repayments, greater taxes are required.
Odinga’s Azimio coalition has organized nine days of public protests against the government since March, with the demonstrations occasionally turning violent and ensuing in looting and deadly fights between security personnel and protesters.
Tuesday morning, Odinga alleged that the police had used force against protesters.
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‘We are witnessing unprecedented police brutality,’ Odinga told a press conference in the capital Nairobi. “Police and hired gangs have shot and killed or wounded scores of people at close range,’ he said.
The opposition leader called off demonstrations in April and May after Ruto agreed to dialogue, but the talks broke down, prompting the Azimio coalition to organise several rounds of protests this month.
In a statement late on Monday, the coalition asked “Kenyans to come out and light candles and lay flowers, preferably white, in remembrance of and respect for the victims.
Odinga’s team had called for another round of demonstrations on Wednesday but said they were changing tack to hold ‘solidarity parades and vigil for victims of police brutality’.
At least 50 people have been killed in the skirmishes since March, according to Azimio. Official figures put the death toll at 20.
Ruto has defended the conduct of the police, saying last week: “We do not want a country of violence or fighting or destruction of property”.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, an independent watchdog created by parliament, on Tuesday said it was ‘disheartening to witness the escalating tensions and the blatant disregard for human rights principles’ by both rogue demonstrators and police.
Rights groups including Amnesty International last week denounced “repression” by police and said they had evidence of 27 “extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions” in July alone.
Odinga claimed earlier this month that the government had hatched a plot to assassinate him during the demonstrations and said his car was shot at multiple times while he was driving around the capital, rallying protesters.