President Uhuru Kenyatta Sunday welcomed
calls for national dialogue to discuss challenges facing the country
but ruled out sharing power with opposition politicians.
Addressing
the nation during the 51st Madaraka Day celebrations at the Nyayo
National Stadium in Nairob, Mr Kenyatta said he was ready to enter into
talks with the opposition on issues facing the country including on how
to reduce the public wage bill and the security threats posed by
terrorism.
After he had delivered his official speech,
in which he outlined his government’s plans and successes, Mr Kenyatta
spoke in Kiswahili in his response to the ultimatum given by the
Opposition on Saturday in which Cord leader Raila Odinga gave the
government until July 7 to convene a national dialogue conference.
“Jana
nilisikia wale wenzetu wakisema wanataka tuongee kama wakenya. Niko
tayari kuongea na viongozi wote. (Yesterday I heard our friends saying
they want dialogue as Kenyans. I am read for talks with all leaders)”,
the President said.
He asked Cord leaders to table their views if they had agreed to work with the government.
He
however added that the Jubilee government would not enter into any
power sharing deal with the opposition. “Sisi kama serikali ya Jubilee
tulichaguliwa na wananchi kuongoza hii nchi kwa miaka mitano na
tutafanya hivyo, ile mambo ya nusu mkate haitakuwa (We as the Jubilee
government were elected by the public to lead this country for five
years and we will do that, that matter about a half loaf will not be
there),” he said as the crowd cheered.
Mr Kenyatta was
responding to remarks made by Cord leader Kalonzo Musyoka who on
Saturday had suggested that Jubilee form an all inclusive government and
that the opposition must be involved in the country’s governance.
Said
Mr Musyoka: “We are telling them Kenyans have a case with the Jubilee
government, they cannot pretend to do things alone, we also have a stake
in the country and we are asking them to come join us and we agree on
issues moving forward.”
Not interested
In
a rejoinder to Mr Kenyatta’s statement that he would not share power
with the Opposition, Mr Odinga Sunday said Cord was not interested in
joining government.
“Hon Raila Odinga wishes to
state that the Cord coalition has never contemplated and will never
contemplate, joining the government,” said a statement sent to the
Nation by his spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango.
However,
the statement said that Cord would not backtrack on its calls for
national dialogue to discuss important issues facing the country such as
the high cost of basic necessities, peace, security, runaway
corruption, strengthening devolution and the overhaul of the
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“Cord’s
intervention is driven by a growing feeling that the Jubilee
administration has lost touch with the pains of ordinary Kenyans who
struggle with house rent, bus fare, school fees and high cost of basic
commodities like milk and unga,” he said.
He said that
the coalition was concerned that Jubilee was failing to address the
effects of the travel advisories issued by foreign government like the
US, the UK and Australia.
In his speech at Nyayo
Stadium, Deputy President William Ruto said Jubilee leaders were ready
to work with all Kenyans and all leaders to build a united country.
“History has said that this is the generation of Kenyans that will create the Kenyan nation out of our tribes, our religions and our regions,” he said.
“History has said that this is the generation of Kenyans that will create the Kenyan nation out of our tribes, our religions and our regions,” he said.
“For all of us who are serving in the
government, we have one leader, one government and we will work for
those who voted for us and those who did not”.
He said
the government had unveiled a Marshall Plan to harness youth talent.
They will also ensure that students in mid-level colleges get loans like
their university counterparts.
And at Kathwana market
in Tharaka-Nithi, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki also ruled out
any power sharing talks between Jubilee and Cord and urged the
opposition to provide solutions to various problems facing the country
instead of constantly criticising the government.
He also said the government was not ready to support changes to the Constitution to pave way for a power sharing formula.
Prof
Kindiki said the previous coalition government of President Mwai Kibaki
and Prime Minister Odinga had demonstrated that such arrangements
derailed development due to constant wrangles.
“Politics
of forming a wrangling government will not be welcomed. We want
national dialogue to deal with insecurity. We want national dialogue to
make sure our youth get jobs.
Additional reporting by Charles Wanyor
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