Tempers Flare as Ruto-Raila Talks End in Near Fisticuffs

The ongoing negotiations between President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga to resolve the 2022 post-election crisis turned into a heated argument on Thursday (September 21) due to a major split between the opposing sides.

President Ruto's team refused to meet interim demands made by Mr Odinga, including lowering the cost of living which resulted in the talks team sending the contentious issues back to the technical committee. Mr Odinga's team only succeeded in having Azimio Party leaders' security details reinstated after they were withdrawn following violent anti-government protests. The two-hour Thursday meeting was not without its share of drama. Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and East African Legislative Assembly member Hassan Omar engaged in bitter exchanges and grandstanding, with Mr Omar criticizing Mr Kioni for his recent remarks that the talks appeared to be designed to fail.

This criticism sparked a heated exchange between the two that was eventually stopped by the co-chairs of the meeting, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah. The team representing Raila Odinga declined to attend a press briefing. President Ruto's team rejected a document presented by Odinga's team, causing a new obstacle in the talks. Mr Ichung'wah protested that Odinga's team introduced new demands. Despite this, both sides agreed to have the interim measures of the opposition discussed by the technical team before aligning them with the broader agenda items.

Kalonzo Musyoka confirmed that the National Dialogue Committee had instructed the technical team to review the interim measures and realign them. The opposition also demanded a reduction in the cost of essential items, suspension of the ongoing recruitment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission members, and preservation of the 2022 presidential data and servers.

Mr Odinga's team is requesting the government to provide information on individuals who have been arrested, prosecuted, injured, killed or gone missing during the demonstrations. The Opposition is seeking compensation and other measures for those who have suffered during the protests. If these issues are not resolved, they will be presented as urgent matters to be addressed within 30 days. Despite this, Mr. Musyoka and Mr. Ichung'wah remain optimistic about the success of the talks. They are committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the current political standoff and will not be distracted by those who seek to disrupt the process.