Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has come to the defence of Azimio leader Raila Odinga amid condemnation by Gen Zs for joining President William Ruto in calling for national dialogue.
Ruto and Raila announced on Tuesday the dialogue under the National Multi-Sectoral Forum will begin on Monday, July 15 and run for six days until Saturday, July 20.
The team will comprise 150 multi-sectoral stakeholders to engage the youth.
The youth who are expected to be part of the talks have declined the invite and blasted Raila for being part of those championing for dialogue.
majority have said the crisis the country finds itself in currently does not need talks, it needs implementation of the Constitution.
The youths have criticised the Azimio boss on social media saying they do not have a leader to represent them.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ngunyi questioned why Raila was being attacked for joining the President in seeking to unite the country.
"What is wrong with dialogue? And what is wrong with Raila Odinga joining Ruto? Why attack Baba?" He asked in a statement on X.
The youth had requested Raila to stay out of the picture as they demanded better governance from the Ruto administration through mass action.
But on Tuesday morning, he emerged at the KICC during the signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill, 2024.
His “we had consultations and agreed that dialogue is the way forward” statement on the steps of the convention centre sparked outrage from Gen Zs on social media who immediately rebuffed the stance.
They said they are tribe-less, party-less and leaders-less and neither of the political class speaks for them.
“Who is ‘we’? They asked.
“We told Raila Odinga to rest and let us handle our matters. We are not going to dialogue with President William Ruto. We know how it ends and Baba is a clear example of how dialogue never works,” one said.
“Raila, as you go ahead and dialogue, kindly don't involve us. Discuss your private matters. You don't speak on our behalf,” said another.
“Sitawahi kaa kimya maisha yangu (I will never keep quiet in my life) until these guys either change or bounce. Anguka nayo hiyo (cramble with that) dialogue and go home Raila, who is ‘We’? One posed.
"We are the people. It's us versus the politicians now guys,” he added.
Former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa renounced the calls for country to have a fresh national dialogue.
In a post on X, Wamalwa said, "I am not boarding!".
He becomes the second Azimio-affiliated leader to question the calls after Karua.
Karua in her reaction said for the talks to be successful, all parties must have goodwill, otherwise, it is just a trap.
