The opposition Azimio coalition has urged dialogue with the government to end demonstrations in Kenya, and one of its demands is a revision of the country’s 13-year-old constitution.
Raila Odinga, the leader of the opposition, and Azimio’s parliamentary group reached an agreement that included a revision of the constitution “to eradicate the concluding vestiges of an autocratic president,” according to a statement released by Odinga.
The opposition cited Kenya as an illustration of its “winner-take-all society.”
In February, Vice President Rigathi Gachagua attracted widespread criticism for comparing the government to a publicly traded company in which certain individuals hold a disproportionate number of shares.
Later, he clarified that he meant to imply that government positions should be given to those who support the president’s agenda, not that state resources will be distributed equitably.
Since March 20, Mr. Odinga has been organizing twice-monthly rallies to protest escalating living costs. He also protested the unannounced formation of a new election commission.
He has also questioned the constitutionality of President William Ruto’s election, which the Supreme Court upheld last year.
Businesses have been destroyed and private property has been vandalized. Particularly in Nairobi and Kisumu, where at least three people have been killed in the riots.
Since last Sunday, when President Ruto asked Mr. Odinga to allow a legislative discussion on the formation of a new election commission, the demonstrations have been suspended.
However, the opposition leader added a new demand for an external conversation on Tuesday. He called for something similar to the 2008 National Accord, which was convened by former UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan in the wake of the controversial 2007 elections.
Several government officials have expressed strong opposition to this plan and accused Mr. Odinga of plotting a clandestine return to power.
In 2007, Mr. Odinga was appointed Prime Minister following the formation of a coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki.
Mr. Odinga is adamant that he does not want a repeat agreement. However, rather an open dialogue about electoral justice to determine how to hold more credible elections.
He claims he will return to the streets if the negotiations fail.
The president has made it abundantly clear that he will not negotiate his own election, but the government parliamentary group has not yet presented a counterproposal for the terms of the negotiations.
