Home KENYA NEWS Ruto Declines Ramaphosa’s Mediation Offer, Odinga Says

Ruto Declines Ramaphosa’s Mediation Offer, Odinga Says

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Ruto Declines Ramaphosa's Mediation Offer, Odinga Says
President Ruto With his South African Counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa at State House, Nairobi in November 2022

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said President William Ruto declined South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s offer to mediate talks between them. 

While President Ruto has agreed to meet Raila for talks, the former prime minister insists on having a third-party mediator present. Despite expressing his willingness to engage in dialogue, Raila has expressed doubts about President Ruto’s trustworthiness in the absence of a mediator. Ramaphosa and Raila share a strong bond dating back to 2007 when Kofi Annan appointed Ramaphosa as the lead mediator during the political crisis following the disputed presidential election outcome. 

“I insist there must be someone between us. President Ramaphosa wants to come but he (Ruto) has refused. President Suluhu is there,” Raila 

However, the then-government led by Mwai Kibaki rejected him, citing bias. Ramaphosa later withdrew his offer after the Party of National Unity rejected him on claims of close business ties with Raila. Raila, who attended Ramaphosa’s first presidential inauguration in 2017 with retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, stated on Wednesday that he would have no objections if the mediator is a former head of state. The former Prime Minister has been open about his willingness to engage with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.

Despite his public appeal for a dialogue on Tuesday, Raila believes that President Ruto is still taking Kenyans for a ride. Raila had previously claimed that Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu came to Kenya two weeks ago to mediate the bi-partisan talks but no progress was made during her two-day visit. In a recent address to the international media, Raila mentioned Suluhu’s visit for the first time.

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi now believes that the meeting between Ruto and Raila, which is yet to take place, is more about their egos. He says that the communication channel used by the President is not important but rather the choice of words used for the invitation. 

13 COMMENTS

  1. Question:
    When will COHO …

    Question:

    When will COHO (Continent of Human Origins) people be truly independent?

    Answer:

    When we get rid of the three psychological constructs:

    1. christianity
    2. islam
    3. democracy

  2. Why do we have to look for a…
    Why do we have to look for a mediator our side the country?Shouldn’t we get someone who knows what is going on in Kenya-in details?And that’s a Kenyan.I am sure we can get one of our professors of politics,and history who is “neutral” to mediate.
    One quality good leaders should have is the ability to solve problems.And if these problems are national in nature as opposed to personal,they should both be willing to sit at the “round table”,and bring solutions.On this score,Iam with Mutahi Ngunyi.Egos are getting in the way.Raila still believes he did not lose the elections,meaning that he won.Ruto wonders,why should I talk to a fellow who does not look at me as the legally elected president on the republic of Kenya-Me the Doctor.

    • Who in there right mind goes…
      Who in there right mind goes into any sort of mediation with Kalejinga Ruto?

  3. Election is over, the…
    Election is over, the Country has moved on Kiserikali, mediation for what?..cost of living?, or re recruitment of Election officials? Or Taxes? Or trade and commerce btw other countries?..what’s does he want?????

  4. Election is over, the…
    Election is over, the Country has moved on Kiserikali, mediation for what?..cost of living?, or re recruitment of Election officials? Or Taxes? Or trade and commerce btw other countries?..what’s does he want?????

  5. Has this one become a pimp?…
    Has this one become a pimp? Who does he think he is. Three presidents three handshakes. He must be weaned off the bottle. He’s owed nothing other than to be opposition back bench.
    You can’t discuss cost of living using mediation.

  6. Theater of the absurd! Go…
    Theater of the absurd! Go home, Raila…You lost so many elections and gullible wananchi still keep following your “Shakaholaic messages”, ending up dead, and others more and more poor.

  7. ?????…. hii juluo bado iko…
    ?????…. hii juluo bado iko usingizini, negotiations za nini, about nani, for nini?

  8. Kenyans should only expect…
    Kenyans should only expect positive change the first hour of demise of cannibal Raila.Hundreds of his worshippers including so-called 50 Mt.Kenya billionaires will hang themselves.Why do Kenyans have presidential elections every five years?Why do some Kenyans pretend not to know that the blotead govt and corruption are the main course of high cost of living?

  9. Ruto should not be busy…
    Ruto should not be busy talking. He should not be distracted. If the country, fails the buck stops with him. How do you talk away the high standard of living. If Raila has the silver burret- of talking away the problems in Kenya and bringing down the high standard of living, how come unga was Ksh 235/ per packet and the standard of living was still high when Raila was in bed with Uhuru under a fake handshake? For nearly 50 yrs, Raila has been nothing but talking the politics of Kenya and all he has to show for it is more talks, more street violence and more deaths of poor innocent Kenyans.

  10. Ramposha should first give a…
    Ramposha should first give a lecture to the many tribal/foolish Kenyans on how to enforce the law equally.He has done it by having his tribesman,Zuma in jail for refusing to write a statement for looting.But fools in Kenya volunteer to be killed for Raila to be a looter/murderous president.Some are ok with Nginas,,Odingas,Mois,Kibakis,Wanjgis etc looting and grabbing.They are still silent on simple straight forward cases like muzoga Kamau grabbing parliament/public land and Margret Saitot “being in pocession” of a stolen child for 40 years.

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