The Political Parties Liaison Committee has thrown its weight behind former PrimeMinister Raila Odinga’s call for a comprehensive national dialogue to help resolve and tamedeepening youth unrest.
The statutory agency, bringing together all registered political parties inKenya, said in a press briefing on Thursday that Raila’s proposal for structuredtalks is timely and necessary.
They cautioned against ignoring the grievances of the country’s youth, warning that doing socould plunge the nation into dangerous instability.
PPLC vice chairman Chris Kilonzo urged President William Ruto to supportthe calls for talks, which he called the way out of the current violence, standoff and politicalquagmire. He equally cautioned politicians against hijacking the process for their own aims andsaid it must be citizen-drive.
“PPLC proposes a national conversation, a citizen-led, inclusive, and structureddialogue to transform public dissent into constructive civic engagement,” Kilonzosaid in Nairobi on Friday.
“This is not the time for delay or division. It is for unity, reform and action. Thenational conversation must belong to all Kenyans. Every citizen deserves a voicein shaping our shared future.”
“Political parties must act as enablers, not gatekeepers, of this citizen-drivenprocess. PPLC will ensure the national conversation reflects political diversitynot domination.”
The committee said its position reflects the stand taken by all politicalparties.
Raila on Monday proposed a national conclave to come up with better andsustainable ways for addressing transparency, accountability and impunity concerningcorruption, to ensure leaders are held accountable for their actions.
Youth also are demanding good government, an end to impunity and police brutality. They wanta voice in governance and they want jobs.
Kilonzo urged the government to step beyond forward and co-create a future with thecountry’s younger generation.
“I propose that the forum comes up with a comprehensive and sustainablestrategy for addressing youth unemployment and the expansion of opportunitiesfor youths in the formal and informal sectors,” the ODM leader said.
Raila said the national conclave must have clear terms of reference and bepopulated by serious and sober minds of the nation.
The former Prime Minister spoke in Nairobi on Monday to mark the historic SabaSaba Day on July 7, 1990 when protesters demanded that Kenya became a multi-partydemocracy.
Instant analysis
The Political Parties Liaison Committee is a platform for dialogueamong political parties, the Office of the Registrar of Political Partiesand the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Itwas established to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process. The PPLCaims to foster communication and collaboration on electoral matters, includingelection planning, logistics, and dispute resolution.
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