Kenya’s government and opposition are expected to have talks on Wednesday to end a deep political rivalry sparked by a series of deadly protests over election changes and the high cost of living.
Raila Odinga, the veteran opposition leader, has organized 10 days of protests since March, most of which have resulted in violent clashes with police, to demand an audit of last year’s election, which brought President William Ruto to office.
According to government numbers, at least 20 people have perished in the fighting, however rights activists believe the toll is significantly higher.
The upheaval in one of East Africa’s most stable democracies has alarmed residents and prompted demands for mediation to settle the deadlock.
The negotiations on Wednesday will be led by a 10-member joint committee and are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. (0830 GMT).
However, no timetable has been established for their duration, and the actual agenda is up for debate.
After losing his sixth try for the presidency to Ruto, Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja alliance stated it wants to tackle the rising cost of living as well as election changes.
An earlier draft agenda, however, did not mention the economic crisis or a slew of tax hikes implemented in July, which enraged Kenyans who were suffering from spiraling prices for basic necessities including as fuel and food.
Critics accuse Ruto of breaking pledges made during the August 2022 election campaign, during which he called himself the champion of downtrodden Kenyans and promised to improve their economic fortunes.
