New Twist in Ruto-Raila Talks as Coons Set to Meet Raila

Chris Coons, the United States Senator who brokered the handshake deal between Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018, is returning to Kenya to engage with the opposition. 

He will meet with Raila on August 13th before the bipartisan talks the following day. Coons has visited Kenya twice since the 2022 General Elections and met with Raila, Uhuru, and President William Ruto separately. It is unclear if he will meet with Ruto again before leaving the country. Some political analysts believe that Coons’ presence indicates a coordinated effort from Western nations to pressure the government and opposition to resolve their standoff. 

Government expert Martin Andati believes that if the opposition’s protests continue to destabilize the nation, the US may lose a significant market for its exporters and an operating base for coordinating regional and continental politics. To avoid this, President Ruto may have to meet the demands of Azimio, which include lowering the cost of living, reconstructing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), respecting political parties, and taking measures to curb police brutality. 

However, Ruto’s party is demanding the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule in Parliament, the inclusion of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the Constitution, the creation of the office of the leader of the opposition, as well as the embedment of the office of the prime cabinet secretary. Andati warns that Ruto will need to appeal to the West to maintain the cordial relations he has had since August 2022. Failure to do so could result in sanctions, causing the country to miss out on loans and grants necessary for developmental projects. Despite this, Ruto has aligned himself with the West while strategically excluding China out of the equation. 

The Azimio brigade has accused foreign nations of supporting an illegitimate government that they claim went against the will of the people. However, foreign diplomats have since denied this and called for a peaceful resolution between the opposition and the government.  There is talk suggesting that Senator Coons might have been dispatched by the United States with the aim of convincing the opposition to establish a ceasefire with Ruto.

Dr Jane Thuo, a political analyst, believes that Western powers are likely to shape a country’s leadership to match their doctrines. She says Ruto’s administration should concentrate on the well-being of Kenyans by fulfilling their pledges from the election campaign. As for the opposition, Jane says that rather than seeking a stake in the government, they should channel their efforts into advocating for real issues directly impacting citizens.