President Uhuru Kenyatta has dashed opposition’s hope of dialogue to unlock election stalemate.
The President in a string of Jubilee Party rallies in Central Kenya maintained he will not engage Raila Odinga in any dialogue ahead of repeat polls-they are just one week away.
Uhuru was categorical that not even foreign powers can make him dialogue with Raila or thwart Kenya’s preparation for repeat polls on October 26.
“We accepted to have a repeat poll, despite the fact that we won. We however will not be pushed to sit and talk with someone whose main need is to just clinch power,” said Uhuru according to the Star.
He insisted Kenyans will choose their leader and not have one imposed on them by mediators from abroad.
He accused Raila of trying to take power through “backdoor”.
“Kenya does not have any problem because all problems are caused by one man called Raila Amollo Odinga. You cannot lead demonstrations where property is destroyed, people are attacked and police stations stoned and then start crying foul, we will take action against any such behavior.”
Uhuru while addressing his supporters from Nyeri said Raila can make trips to London or the US but all decisions will be made by Kenyans.
Deputy President William Ruto on his part said Jubilee is not ready to dialogue with Raila.
Ruto cateforically said there will be no repeat of 2008 mediation talks that led to “nusu mkate” government.
“Foreigners will not help him because this is our country and we put our foot down…that Kofi Annan, or any arbitrator, is not welcome to Kenya to broker peace with someone not interested in an election. Kenyan voters will vote,” said Ruto.
On Sunday at Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa, Raila said he was never interested in “nusu mkate” government and that it was Ruto who pushed him to the talks.
“Ruto is so forgetful. He, alongside [Musalia] Mudavadi, [Sam] Ongeri, [Martha] Karua, [Moses] Wetang’ula and Mutula Kilonzo, were the ones who sat in the talks. Raila Odinga was not present. How it turns that I wanted a coalition government is surprising,” Raila lamented.
Ruto further accused Raila of trying to create a political crisis in the country to precipitate mediation talks to split power.
Raila has called for daily demonstrations against the IEBC.
This, according to Ruto is a strategy to cause violence and later rope in the international community to mediate.