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Opposition, government differ on talks format, content
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Odinga says protests to resume after Ramadan
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Parliament's majority leader says Odinga insincere
(Adds comment by parliament's majority leader)
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, opposition leader Raila Odinga said on
Thursday.
In early April, Odinga ended anti-government protests after
an appeal from President William Ruto, but said at the time they
could resume within days if there was no meaningful engagement
or response from the government.
Thousands participated in three marches held over two weeks
in late March and early April. The protests, in part stirred by
accusations of fraud in last August's presidential election,
were all 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," Odinga told a town-hall style meeting in the capital
Nairobi.
"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 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.
Kimani Ichung'wah, majority leader in parliament and a
member of Ruto's party, said Odinga's moves were meant to pile
pressure on the government and get a stake in it.
Odinga has in the past said he had no interest in
getting any role in the current government.
"Raila (Odinga) has never had an interest in any peaceful process and (this) is no surprise," Ichung'wah said in a text message to Reuters. "All their actions should therefore be viewed as actions done in bad faith and very insincere." Kenyan police and interior ministry spokespeople did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments on the resumption of protests. (Reporting by George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri and Humphrey Malalo; editing by Josie Kao and Mark Heinich)
george.obulutsa.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))