Following a string of violent protests over electoral reforms and the country’s high cost of living, Kenya’s government and opposition are scheduled to begin negotiations on Wednesday in an effort to end their ongoing political dispute.
Since March, veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has organised ten days of protests, most of which have been marred by violent run-ins with the law, to call for an audit of the election that put President William Ruto in office.
Official statistics indicate that at least 20 people have perished in the conflicts, but human rights activists believe the number to be significantly higher.
One of the most stable democracies in East Africa is experiencing instability, which has alarmed both domestically and internationally and sparked calls for mediation to resolve the crisis.
The negotiations on Wednesday are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. by a joint committee made up of 10 people.
However, there is no predetermined duration for them, and there is disagreement over the precise schedule.
After losing his sixth attempt at the president to Ruto and complaining that he was cheated of victory, Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja alliance stated it wanted to talk about the rising cost of living as well as election changes.
However, a previous copy of the agenda omitted the economic crisis and a number of tax increases that were implemented in July, infuriating Kenyans who were already facing skyrocketing prices for necessities like food and fuel.
Critics accuse Ruto 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.
Kimani Ichung’wah, the ruling party’s parliamentary majority leader, on Monday maintained Kenya Kwanza would not entertain talks on the economic crisis despite Azimio’s demands.
“We will listen to them on anything but not the cost of living. The president is already working on it,” Ichung’wah, who will lead the government delegation, said at a rally.