Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has called out leaders within the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition over what he described as their opposition to the proposed multi-sectoral dialogue fronted by President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The national dialogue aimed at addressing pressing issues facing Kenyans that were amplified by protesting Gen Z youth has attracted widespread opposition from some Azimio leaders including Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Party), Martha Karua (Nark Kenya), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP Kenya), Jeremiah Kioni (Jubilee) Siaya Governor James Orengo and Root Party leader Wajackoyah.
Affirming his support for Raila, Otuoma said the forum should not be viewed as a conversation between the head-of-state and the former prime minister, but as a platform to address the challenges be-delving the country.
“Raila is a top diplomat who cannot allow our country to burn under his watch. This is the reason he saw it prudent to engage in the forum to stabilise the county and I am fully in support of his dialogue initiative,” he said.
The governor said the governance reform calls by Gen Z have come at the right time when senior government officials have been boasting of being top shareholders in government as others flaunt opulence before suffering Kenyans.
He said the country has come a long way from dark days when abductions, detention without trial and many other atrocities were the order of the day.
Otuoma who made the remarks when he graced the County Field Day and the launch of livestock vaccination at Busia Agricultural Training Centre on Friday, said Raila and other reformists sacrificed a lot for the freedoms the country is enjoying today thus concerns raised by citizens should be heard.
“The Gen Zs have raised pertinent issues that need to be addressed. However, we should not allow unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of such an initiative for their selfish interest,” he said.
The governor made the remarks after a crucial meeting convened by opposition bigwigs to decide whether or not to board the national dialogue train failed to take place on Monday as planned.
Azimio Coalition party Principals were scheduled to meet in Nairobi on Monday to take a common position on President William Ruto’s proposed national dialogue but it is understood that Raila was at his Capitol Hill offices throughout the day attending to private matters as his co-principals remained aloof for the better part of the day.
The session was to be attended by leaders of Azimio constituent parties including Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka.
Other Azimio partners include Narc Kenya party boss Martha Karua, Jubilee Secretary General Kioni, DAP-K party leader Eugene and Roots Party boss Wajackoyah.
The failure exposed widening cracks in Azimio over an alleged deal between Ruto and Raila following the duo meeting last week and surprise endorsement of the national dialogue.
A section of the leaders opposed to the talks among them Kalonzo, Karua and Wamalwa were reportedly non-responsive and “non-committal’’ on attending the meeting.
AGRICULTURE PROMOTION
The governor said the ward-based agriculture sector-driven Rural Economic Revitalisation Programme initiated by his administration intends to contribute to poverty reduction by 50 per cent and ensure over 142,000 farming households are food secure by 2027.
“For the last year, through the Department of Agriculture we have unveiled programmes focused on improving sustainability and commercialisation of agriculture by leveraging on innovations and technologies for aggregation, agro-processing and export-oriented value addition,” he said.
He said the initiative intends to build on the opportunities that can be exploited by investors who want to venture into manufacturing and agro-processing with the end product being employment opportunities for the youths.
The county chief was accompanied by county executive committee members, George Mukok (Agriculture), Topista Wanyama (Finance), chief officers Timothy Odende (Agriculture), Mercy Imo (Veterinary Services) and Members of the County Assembly led by Majority Leader Josephat Wandera and a host of farmers.