Africa  

Kenyan politicians' secret talks keep country guessing

Source: Xinhua   2018-04-26 20:35:57

NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan politicians have kept their critics and admirers guessing as they engage in secret talks on 2022 succession battle.

The politicians, both from the opposition and the ruling party Jubilee, have heightened the meetings as they seek to build new alliances.

The talks culminate into photo opportunities and a handshake to signify unity. The past two weeks have witnessed a flurry of secret meetings that have kept the political scene alight.

Once sworn enemies during last year's disputed elections have held meetings warming to new relations.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto top the list of leaders engaging in the secret talks.

Odinga has met several leaders that include two former presidents namely Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki.

He also made peace with President Uhuru Kenyatta after secret talks following divisive polls last year.

Odinga has also met several ruling party politicians, some being his worst critics in last year's polls.

"I called on Retired President Kibaki and discussed the current state of our nation and exchanged ideas on how best we can forge ahead in unity as a people," said Odinga after the meeting.

Ruto, on the other hand, has met several opposition and ruling party Jubilee politicians as he seeks to widen his political base.

"There is nothing wrong with leaders reconciling as long as it is for the benefit of the nation. We actually need more of the handshakes and we will shake more hands," said Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Ruto's ally, recently.

Opposition politician Kalonzo Musyoka, who also harbors presidential ambitions, has also held meetings with Jubilee politicians.

Kenyans are watching keenly the developments in the political arena, with some of the meetings baffling many. The talks have dominated political chatter on the streets and social media.

"If Odinga met Moi and Kibaki, two leaders who his supporters have blamed partly for his failure to win the presidency, then anything is possible in politics," Nahashon Njoroge, a newspaper vendor in Nairobi, said Thursday.

The meetings, Njoroge noted, have left many guessing. "What this means is that we are going to witness new political alliances," he said.

Sarah Musau, an insurance agent, is happy with the talks noting they are helping to show the electorate that they don't need to be enemies or fight over politicians.

"During last year's elections, one would have thought Odinga and Kenyatta would never see eye to eye. Their supporters fought and even killed each other but the two are now best of friends after secret talks," she noted.

On social media, discussions about the meetings and handshakes have been dominant in the last two weeks.

"Following in the footsteps of Kalonzo, Moses Wetangula goes for the handshake at City Hall with Sonko," tweeted Jeff on Wednesday.

Analysts noted that the current meetings are making the political scene slippery, thus unpredictable.

"What these talks mean is that the politicians understand they cannot sit on their laurels hoping that their support would remain intact," said Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer and political analyst in Nairobi.

He added the talks show the 2022 presidential race is wide open and everyone should fight for their survival.

John Gitongo, a human rights crusader in Nairobi, noted that the handshakes are about scheming to win the 2022 polls at all costs, including by changing constitution.

"Seems to me like handshakes mean parliamentary system, which means constitutional change, which means referendum. It would be shame to tinker with constitution to stop someone from becoming president though. We tried that in 1976. Let's see how it unfolds."

Joseph ole Kiyiapi, a professor of environment and former presidential candidate, however, reckoned that handshakes are good for the country, but added that there should be no hidden agendas.

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Kenyan politicians' secret talks keep country guessing

Source: Xinhua 2018-04-26 20:35:57

NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan politicians have kept their critics and admirers guessing as they engage in secret talks on 2022 succession battle.

The politicians, both from the opposition and the ruling party Jubilee, have heightened the meetings as they seek to build new alliances.

The talks culminate into photo opportunities and a handshake to signify unity. The past two weeks have witnessed a flurry of secret meetings that have kept the political scene alight.

Once sworn enemies during last year's disputed elections have held meetings warming to new relations.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto top the list of leaders engaging in the secret talks.

Odinga has met several leaders that include two former presidents namely Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki.

He also made peace with President Uhuru Kenyatta after secret talks following divisive polls last year.

Odinga has also met several ruling party politicians, some being his worst critics in last year's polls.

"I called on Retired President Kibaki and discussed the current state of our nation and exchanged ideas on how best we can forge ahead in unity as a people," said Odinga after the meeting.

Ruto, on the other hand, has met several opposition and ruling party Jubilee politicians as he seeks to widen his political base.

"There is nothing wrong with leaders reconciling as long as it is for the benefit of the nation. We actually need more of the handshakes and we will shake more hands," said Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Ruto's ally, recently.

Opposition politician Kalonzo Musyoka, who also harbors presidential ambitions, has also held meetings with Jubilee politicians.

Kenyans are watching keenly the developments in the political arena, with some of the meetings baffling many. The talks have dominated political chatter on the streets and social media.

"If Odinga met Moi and Kibaki, two leaders who his supporters have blamed partly for his failure to win the presidency, then anything is possible in politics," Nahashon Njoroge, a newspaper vendor in Nairobi, said Thursday.

The meetings, Njoroge noted, have left many guessing. "What this means is that we are going to witness new political alliances," he said.

Sarah Musau, an insurance agent, is happy with the talks noting they are helping to show the electorate that they don't need to be enemies or fight over politicians.

"During last year's elections, one would have thought Odinga and Kenyatta would never see eye to eye. Their supporters fought and even killed each other but the two are now best of friends after secret talks," she noted.

On social media, discussions about the meetings and handshakes have been dominant in the last two weeks.

"Following in the footsteps of Kalonzo, Moses Wetangula goes for the handshake at City Hall with Sonko," tweeted Jeff on Wednesday.

Analysts noted that the current meetings are making the political scene slippery, thus unpredictable.

"What these talks mean is that the politicians understand they cannot sit on their laurels hoping that their support would remain intact," said Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer and political analyst in Nairobi.

He added the talks show the 2022 presidential race is wide open and everyone should fight for their survival.

John Gitongo, a human rights crusader in Nairobi, noted that the handshakes are about scheming to win the 2022 polls at all costs, including by changing constitution.

"Seems to me like handshakes mean parliamentary system, which means constitutional change, which means referendum. It would be shame to tinker with constitution to stop someone from becoming president though. We tried that in 1976. Let's see how it unfolds."

Joseph ole Kiyiapi, a professor of environment and former presidential candidate, however, reckoned that handshakes are good for the country, but added that there should be no hidden agendas.

[Editor: huaxia]
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