NAIROBI, April 13 (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition
alliance is prepared to negotiate with the government over
electoral reforms and the high cost of living while also
resuming protests, its leader Raila Odinga said on Thursday.
In early April, Odinga ended anti-government protests after
an appeal from President William Ruto and at the time said the
protests could resume within days if there was no meaningful
engagement or response from the government.
Thousands had participated in three marches held over two
weeks in late March and early April. All were marred by
violence.
"Kenyans are standing firm. We have agreed, the talks
proceed, but I agree with the recommendation that has come out
of here today that talks will proceed and protests will run
parallel," he told a town-hall style meeting in Nairobi on
Thursday.
"We will continue. We are waiting for Ramadan to end. Once
it ends, we will make an announcement for the protests," he
said, referring to the holy Muslim fasting month.
Odinga's Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) Alliance and
Ruto's ruling Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) alliance disagree about
the content of the talks and who should steer them.
Azimio says lawmakers and others outside parliament should
go beyond the selection of senior election body officials to
discuss measures to address the cost of living and review the
2022 elections.
Kenya Kwanza wants to limit the scope of the talks to the
selection of electoral officials, and the participants to
lawmakers only.
Kenyan police and interior ministry spokespeople did not
immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments on the
resumption of protests.
Neither the presidency spokesperson, Hussein Mohammed, nor
the head of Ruto's party in the national assembly, Kimani
Ichung'wah, responded to similar requests.
(Reporting by George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri and Humphrey
Malalo; Editing by Josie Kao)
george.obulutsa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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