Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga said Wednesday that his coalition will support the recommendations of Kenya’s National Dialogue Committee but considers them “imperfect and unfinished” because they fail to address the rising cost of living in the East African nation.
Speaking at a news conference, Odinga said the committee’s report, submitted Sunday after three months of talks between Azimio and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance, brought “significant reform mileages that can help strengthen our governance.”
However, he said, “The two teams were unable to agree on the need and the means to reduce the cost of living. This is why we have described the document as imperfect and unfinished.”
Odinga said Kenya Kwanza refused to consider Azimio’s proposals for lowering costs, arguing that economic policy is the government’s sole responsibility.
“Apparently, as the regime’s economic policies hardened life for Kenyans, so did the regime harden its heart,” Odinga said.
He said corruption networks could be impacted by measures to reduce living costs, which is why the government wouldn’t bend.
Azimio made several proposals, including cutting travel budgets for state officers by 50% and reducing value-added tax on fuel from 16% to 8%, Odinga said. But Kenya Kwanza “would not budge,” he said.
“We realized that Kenya Kwanza cannot touch cost of living because it anchors the massive corruption that has returned to the country,” Odinga said.
Still, Azimio will support reforms recommended by the committee, including changes aimed at improving elections, increasing funds for county governments and creating a Ward Development Fund, Odinga said.
But Azimio is reserving the right to press Ruto’s administration further on reducing living costs, including by calling on Kenyans to take action. According to Odinga, Azimio also believes a referendum should decide whether to create the role of opposition leader or prime Cabinet secretary.
The talks followed August’s disputed presidential election. Odinga alleged fraud after narrowly losing to Ruto, triggering street demonstrations that left several people dead.
