President Ruto urges Raila Odinga to call off protests

My door is open for talks, call off protests - Ruto

• Addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on Sunday, the President said he is ready to engage any leader.

• He, however, maintained that the talks must be based on sincere deliberations anchored on the rule of law.

Raila Odinga.
Image: Twitter

President William Ruto has urged ODM leader Raila Odinga to call off protests.

Addressing the nation from State House Nairobi on Sunday, the President said he is ready to engage any leader.

"Our position is that we want to engage our brothers and sisters on the other side on issues that are important to Kenyans, them as an opposition, us as a government," he said.

He, however, maintained that the talks must be based on sincere deliberations anchored on the rule of law.

"My door still remains open for honest, objective and sincere deliberations based on the rule of law and the Constitution,"  he said.

He suggested a bi-partisan engagement in Parliament on the reconstitution of the IEBC panel within the parameters of the law and the Constitution.

"I urge Raila and the opposition to call off the demonstration and give bi- partisan approach for us to take Kenya forward."

Ruto said he has listened to issues raised by the ODM leader and saw it wise to back down on his hardline stance for the good of the country.

"I have carefully listened to the issues raised by my friend Raila Odinga. In times like these, it is not about who is right or who is wrong. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak but it is also what it takes to sit down and listen," he said.

Among the issues, the President said will be re-looked to accommodate the opposition's views is the recruitment of the IEBC commissioners.

He referred the matter back to parliament for a bi-partisan approach to arrive at a neutral solution.

Earlier in the day, Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga said they were ready for the next phase of anti-government protests dubbed 'Mega Monday'.

Taking to Twitter, Raila said they are ready for the fourth peaceful protest on Monday.

The opposition has been taking to the streets on Mondays and Thursdays.

On Saturday, he said Monday's demos will be the mother of all protests.

The demos have seen at least 10 people including police officers lose their lives.

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