Raila lays out terms for national talks but Uhuru invites him for ‘friendly chat’

Tuesday, June 3, 2014
 
Cord Leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (left),Raila Odinga (centre) and Moses Wetangula address journalists at Orange House in Nairobi on the June 3, 2014. Cord leaders on Tuesday asked Jubilee to name its team to prepare the terms of engagement for the conference being proposed by the Opposition on the challenges facing the country. PHOTO/EVANS HABIL  

In Summary

• Mr Odinga said the country was worse off under the leadership of the Jubilee Government.
• This, according to the opposition coalition, had brought the total amount so far paid to the businessman to Sh4.1 billion.
• President Kenyatta and National Treasury principal secretary Kamau Thugge have only acknowledged that Sh1.4 billion had been paid. Dr Thugge told a parliamentary committee that he had paid the money on the instructions of State House official, Manoah Esipisu.

By Bernard Namunane
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By DAVE OPIYO
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Cord leaders on Tuesday asked Jubilee to name its team to prepare the terms of engagement for the conference being proposed by the Opposition on the challenges facing the country.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula said the Jubilee team would work with technical experts proposed by the Opposition.

“We have proposed to them to name a team to meet ours to work on the principles of engagement. However, we insist that they should be serious about issues raised,” Mr Odinga said.

He also asked Jubilee leaders to first admit that there was a crisis in the country and to act in good faith during the talks.

 However, the three fought off claims that their demands were driven by intentions to share power.

Mr Odinga also announced that Cord would embark on countrywide rallies starting at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa on June 15 to push for the talks which they expect to start on July 7.

He named insecurity, corruption, national unity and inclusivity, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), devolution and restructuring of the Provincial Administration and international isolation as the issues which have to be resolved.

“We expect Jubilee to treat these matters seriously,” Mr Odinga told the Press at Orange House in Nairobi.

According to him, the crisis facing the country cannot be shelved until the end of the Jubilee Government which came to power after last year’s General Election.

“There is a misguided notion that we are trying to join the government. We don’t want to have anything to do with this government,” he said.

 On Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared his readiness for national dialogue during Madaraka Day celebrations but ruled out any power sharing arrangement. He also said the government had been holding national dialogue on such issues as the rising public wage bill.

Yesterday, Mr Odinga said Cord was concerned about the number of Kenyans killed by terrorists, the high cost of living, the increased external debt and divisive politics which have polarised the country.

KENYANS WORSE OFF

Mr Odinga said the country was worse off under the leadership of the Jubilee Government.

Said the Cord leader: “Things are getting from bad to worse…Kenya has been going through a very rough stretch compared to any time in our history. 

“We are fighting Al-Shabaab abroad and at home and the end does not seem to be in sight…the re-emergence of big time corruption, with inflation of contract costs and demand for kickbacks, added to the growing insecurity in our country meaning no investors will be coming here. This means no jobs and disappearance of old ones. That means desperation for everybody especially our youths.”

Mr Musyoka, who served as vice-president under President Mwai Kibaki, said Jubilee must demonstrate “absolute faith” and accept that the country was in a crisis.

“Others have even called it national salvation dialogue. On our part, we want structured dialogue and we have said we are ready,” he said.

Mr Odinga claimed that the government had quietly given into the demands by businessman Anura Perera by paying him an additional Sh3.05 billion, which was also part of the questionable Anglo Leasing-type contracts.

This, according to the opposition coalition, had brought the total amount so far paid to the businessman to Sh4.1 billion.

President Kenyatta and National Treasury principal secretary Kamau Thugge have only acknowledged that Sh1.4 billion had been paid. Dr Thugge told a parliamentary committee that he had paid the money on the instructions of State House official, Manoah Esipisu.

And on Tuesday, the State House questioned the demand for the refund of the money paid to two the companies owned by Mr Perera.

“Mr Odinga chaired a meeting which resolved to pay Sh5.2 billion….. Sh3.7 billion for the Naval Ship and Sh1.5 billion for the military Nexus project. They are Anglo Leasing related projects so what is he trying to say?” asked State House external media director Munyori Buku.

Mr Odinga had demanded that the money paid be refunded and that the civil servants and their associates who abetted the scandal must be prosecuted.

REACTION

RAILA'S VIEW ON KEY ISSUES

On governance: “We must gather all the courage to deal with this crisis and stop the complete collapse of our nation.”

On the money paid to two companies linked to Mr Perera: “Nobody should be cheated that there is any relationship between paying of this Anglo Leasing money and our credit rating with regard to the Euro Bond. Any such attempt to derive as association between the two is a lie.”

On national dialogue: “We have proposed to them to name a team to meet ours to work on the principles of engagement.