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"For us to have this National conversation, we call on the government to take certain immediate steps to create the necessary environment. The decision to fire his cabinet was a good start in our view," Sifuna said.
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ODM wants Ruto to immediately fire the IG of Police and the Nairobi Police commander.
Image: EDWIN SIFUNA/X
The Orange Democratic Movement has listed demands President William Ruto must meet before the national dialogue.
Ruto and Raila announced a national 6-day dialogue under the National Multi-Sectoral Forum scheduled for next week.
However, the party now wants the President to fulfil their demands before they have the dialogue.
While addressing the press on Friday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said that Kenyans are still not content with the government.
This comes after the President on Thursday fired his entire cabinet save for the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
"For us to have this National conversation, we call on the government to take certain immediate steps to create the necessary environment. The decision to fire his cabinet was a good start in our view," Sifuna said.
"But the feeling across the country is that there still exists an atmosphere of fear that makes it impossible for people to speak freely."
ODM wants Ruto to immediately fire the IG of Police and the Nairobi Police commander.
They also want the President to apprehend all police officers implicated in the murders of innocent Kenyans in peaceful protests since last year.
"We call for a national amnesty for all persons arrested or charged in connection with protests, and compensation for all victims of police brutality. Time is of the essence, fellow countrymen."
Sifuna said the ODM Central Management Committee met on Friday to review current national affairs.
ODM said they are ready to support the country to come up with measures that can restore lasting peace and stability.
The party said they are ready to address long-standing issues like unemployment, the unending search for justice and equality, fighting corruption, and negative ethnicity in national life and instil a tradition for meritocracy in appointment to public offices among others.
"This conversation in our view must come ahead of other conversations on the structure of our national governance going forward," Sifuna said.
"As a party, ODM has never shied away from stepping up and having difficult conversations whenever the destiny of our nation is at stake. Indeed it is said that it is in times of crisis that leadership emerges."
According to ODM, the emerging issues and the urgent need to address them are not about rescuing the Kenya Kwanza regime.
Sifuna said the Nation is bigger than, and distinct from any one of the leaders.
"We see this as a chance to rescue our nation and pull it back from the precipice. We, therefore, welcome these developments in the hope that they will mark the beginning of honest and earnest efforts to address the myriad issues expressed by disappointed and angry youths and a huge segment of the Kenyan population."
The ODM SG further added that they will engage with the country without fear.