Opposition leader Raila Odinga has halted the planned dialogue process, demanding a new set of conditions from the government.
Raila emphasized that the issues raised by the youth need to be addressed as a priority before any talks can begin.
"Justice must come first before any discussions," he stated in a press release on Sunday.
According to the ODM leader, compensation must be provided to all victims of police brutality, and all cases related to protests should be dismissed. Additionally, he demands the release of all those who have been abducted or imprisoned, and the resolution of issues raised by health workers and JSS teachers.
Raila is also calling for the abandonment of the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) in favor of the previous NHIF and for the prosecution of all security officers who committed crimes during the protests.
"Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national dialogue, conducted transparently in a neutral venue," he said.
He suggested that representatives in the dialogue should come from various sectors, including youth, government, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and teachers.
The topics for discussion should include governance, the rising cost of living, the eradication of tribalism, corruption, and fiscal management.
President William Ruto had recently called for the establishment of a national multi-sectoral forum to address concerns raised by the youth following nationwide protests.
The six-day dialogue process was originally scheduled to start the Monday before last.
During a press briefing last Thursday, Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura mentioned that the opposition and the government had not yet reached an agreement on key issues.
“Discussions are ongoing on both sides. As you may know, the opposition has its own supporters, and they need to be consulted just as we are doing on our side,” he said.
He also noted that no final list of participants for the forum has been released.
“It’s important to remember that discussions don’t always have to happen in person. We might use technology to resolve some issues. So, let’s be patient,” he added.
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