The much docile national cohesion body, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has today lauded Sunday’s political truce between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga silently brokered by foreign diplomats and religious leaders.
NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia welcomed president’s decision to agree to extend an olive branch and agreeing to hold dialogue and discuss issues the opposition has with the government.
Through a quick dispatch to newsrooms today, Kobia termed the two politicians’ decision as significant of “statesmanship and insightful leadership”.
“We commend the Rt. Hon Raila Amolo Odinga for accepting the olive branch and calling off scheduled demonstrations. The two leaders have demonstrated statesmanship and deserve support for the courageous steps they have taken towards resolving all issues at the table through dialogue.” Kobia said.
The Azimio One Kenya Coalition suspended the bi-weekly anti-government demonstrations to give dialogue a chance but issued conditions that they reserve the right to resume mass protests should the engagement bear no meaningful results.
The protests had sharply divided the country but NCIC had done little to calm the situation.
“These conversations shall target Kenyans from all walks of life to deliberate on the critical issues affecting the lives of ordinary wananchi and the middle class as well.” Kobia said.
The recommendations from the forums, Kobia noted, “will contribute to, and enrich ideas and practical activities of the new trajectory evolving from the dialogue initiative.”
On Sunday, Odinga called off the bi-weekly anti-government protests he had staged for two weeks and said he is ready for dialogue to address key issues the opposition has with Ruto’s government.
It followed President Ruto’s appeal to Odinga hours prior, urging him to stop the demonstrations and instead consider talks towards a bipartisan parliamentary process in the recruitment of commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The formation of a new electoral body is one of the issues the opposition had raised with President Ruto’s administration.
NCIC was among the parties that had condemned Odinga’s demonstrations.
Odinga has meanwhile said he is ready to start dialogues with the Head of State, but however, threatened to resume protests if “no meaningful outcome” is reached within a week.