JSS Teachers Concerns First Before Dialogue, Odinga Demands
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has declared that he will not participate in the national dialogue proposed by President William Ruto until justice is addressed.
Odinga emphasized the need for justice to precede any talks, as expressed in a letter to Kenyan youth on Sunday.
Odinga expressed solidarity with the young generation leading anti-government protests for over a month.
He outlined specific demands that the government must meet before he agrees to engage in the six-day multi-sectoral dialogue forum proposed by President Ruto on July 9, 2024.
Initial Support for Dialogue
Initially, Odinga had supported Ruto’s dialogue initiative, describing it as the best way to resolve the current national crisis.
However, he has now changed his stance, asserting to the young generation that he will only participate in the dialogue if the following conditions are met:
Demands:
- Compensation for victims of police brutality
- Dismissal of all protest-related cases
- Release of all abductees and those imprisoned
- Resolution of outstanding healthcare (healthcare workers’ welfare) and education (JSS teachers) grievances
- Reversion of public healthcare insurance back to NHIF, discarding SHIF
- Prosecution of security sector perpetrators responsible for atrocities against peaceful Kenyans
Conditions for Dialogue
Odinga stated that once these issues are addressed, a National Conversation can proceed transparently in a neutral venue.
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He proposed that representatives for this convention should come from various sectors, including youth, government, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and teachers.
Focus of the National Conversation
Odinga argued that the national conversation should tackle critical national and constitutional issues such as:
JSS Teachers Concerns First Before Dialogue, Odinga Demands
