NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 24 – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has maintained that the Kenya Kwanza Government will not have a dialogue with opposition leader Raila Odinga terming him a criminal who is determined to destroy Kenya’s economy.
Speaking in Kisii County on Friday, Gachagua asked church leaders to pray for Odinga that he may stop calling for protests.
He asked Odinga to put the interests of the people first instead of asking President William Ruto to have a dialogue with him.
“We respect church leaders and we are glad you are after a peaceful country. However, we cannot have a dialogue with a criminal who keeps destroying the property of Kenyans. We are asking yiu to look for this man (Raila Odinga), talk to him and if he does not listen, pray for him,” Gachagua said
He further called on Raila to face the President and stop misusing young people by calling them to demonstrations which are not only unhealthy but also destructive to country’s peace and cohesion.
“There is nothing new that Raila is doing. He has never been content with any sitting government since the days of Moi when he tried to overthrow the government. He has done the same things with the rest of the governments and he is at it again with the Kenya Kwanza Government. All he does is destroy people’s property,” said Gachagua.
“There was nothing like peaceful demonstrations and there will never be in this country as long as they are led by Raila.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi echoed DP’s sentiments saying the Kenya Kwanza government is focused on reviving and improving the economy.
Mudavadi accused Azimio leader of exhausting all the means to get in the government, hence resorting to unlawful demonstrations.
“This man has done everything possible including going to court, but he has failed. How do you want to have a dialogue with the sitting President to reinstate people who tried to subvert the will of the people in 2022 general election? That cannot happen,” Mudavadi said.
Earlier on Friday President Ruto dared Odinga to face him directly instead of harassing Kenyans with unnecessary mass protests.
President Ruto who spoke in Kitutu Chache North Constituency, challenged Odinga to direct his issues to him having run against him in the August 2022 polls.
“Stop disturbing Kenyans and stop the arrogance and the contempt for ordinary people,” he said.
Odinga lost in the polls to President Ruto by a margin of 200, 000 votes and unsuccessfully challenged the outcome at the Supreme Court.
The Head of State underscored that Odinga’s game plan of mass protests would yield nothing substantial but only wreak havoc and further destabilize the country’s economy.
“The protests will not lower the country’s high cost of living and Odinga knows that. He should stop bothering and disturbing Kenyans,” he said.
He reiterated that he is ready and willing to work with leaders who support his government and agenda.
Odinga and his allies are already gearing up to protest on February 27, and 30, 2023 as they push the government to address their concerns key among others to lower the high cost of living and the need for electoral reforms in the country.
The President had previously warned that his administration will decisively deal with “economic terrorists” who are out to destabilize his government.
