The Operation Linda Ugatuzi have watered bipartisan talks and demanded multipartism dialogue
They have arguably noted that involvement of many stakeholders including media council of Kenya, Civil Society Groups and Private Sector will bring transparency
A section of civil society organisations have demanded the dialogue between Kenya Kwanza Coalition and Azimio la Umoja one Kenya counterpart to be multipartism but not bipartisan
Speaking to safinews.co.ke on Sunday 6th July, the lobby group stated that both political divide are dishonest with the issues and they want to discuss how they can share positions instead of addressing the cost of living
“Both Raila and Ruto are being dishonest, because if Raila really wants to have conversations about Kenya why does he want to talk to Ruto alone, if Ruto wants to have conversations with Raila why do he want to talk to him alone.
We are the only solomonic voice and solomonically let these be a multipartism and not bipartisan talk of politicians who want to share government positions and push bills higher to Kenyans which will then make cost of living much higher than where it is right now,” Operation Linda Ugatuzi Chairperson Prof Fred Ogola remarked
He further called upon the both sides to involve Media Council of Kenya [MCK] in their talks to have a transparent conversations where all Kenyans including civil society groups will be allowed to raise their opinions on the platform
Backing the sentiments, Secretary General to the lobby group, Calystus Wafula, also observed that religious organizatios as well as civil society groups should also be on the dialogue table
“Mazungumzo ambayo inahusu wakenya haiwezi kuwa ni ya watu fulani na haiwezi kuwa wamebebea wakenya wote akili. Cost of living is affecting everybody, as a result, it has seen increment in fuel and petroleum products.
Th high cost of living has directly affected businesses by having high tax on commodities, we need to be included in this dialogue so that we can discuss how we manage this situation. If it’s increasing production so that in the long run we can end up reducing the cost of living then be it,” Wafula
He further urged President William Ruto to focus on establishing industries that will create job opportunities for millions of jobless Kenyans
“When we talk about we want to have national dialogue, we must involve so many stakeholders not few. We need to discuss why business in Kenya are not performing well than in Uganda and Tanzania?
Why private sectors want to move to other countries? We want to have candid conversations if it’s reducing the number of created positions in your government be it so that we can save Kenyans from this burden
They also accused the both side for neglecting victims of the anti-government protests whom were tortured by the police after opposition leader Raila Odinga led them to demonstrate while taking rest in undisclosed location
“We still have so many people who have been hospitalised in different hospitals following the blunt borne by the both side where police brutaly attacked protesters led by Raila Odinga and nobody is willing to foot their bills, they have left them with the civil society groups and other well wishers,” Operation Linda Ugatuzi Stated