Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called on Kenyans to choose dialogue over confrontation as the country grapples with deepening political tensions and mounting generational divisions.
In an interview with NTV, Odinga championed his proposal for an Intergenerational National Conclave, a grassroots-driven forum aimed at uniting the nation through inclusive, people-led dialogue. He warned that failure to engage in such conversations could plunge Kenya into chaos.
“I never run out of dialogue ideas because people must talk. When there’s a crisis, people must find a solution. If you don’t, you get anarchy,” he said, emphasizing that a national conversation was the only viable path to peace and reform.
Odinga clarified that the idea of a national dialogue process was originally his, though President William Ruto’s recent call for talks was rejected by protesting Gen Z demonstrators. He stressed that the need for dialogue remains urgent and that any process must begin at the grassroots level, with communities electing gender-balanced, youth-inclusive delegates to represent them at county and national levels.
“This is a people’s process. Communities can organize and elect their representatives. Then at the national level, MPs, civil society, religious leaders, workers, and intellectuals join the table,” he said.
Reflecting on the peak of the Gen Z-led protests, Odinga revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta had urged him to initiate dialogue with President Ruto for the sake of national stability. “The streets had become almost inaccessible… It was a stalemate. That’s not what we thought was an option,” he explained.
Odinga acknowledged the mixed reactions to his proposal but expressed satisfaction that it has sparked nationwide discussion. “I’m not worried about those who do not understand what I’m trying to do. I always try to convince them to see the things the way I see them,” he said.
He also assured the public that plans are underway to compensate victims of the recent unrest. “On compensations, it’s going to happen. Just hold your horses. A taskforce will deal with it,” he said.
Odinga concluded by reiterating his decision to step back from the protests at the request of the youth. “They said they were out to finish the job and asked me to stay home. I respected their wishes,” he said, urging unity and intergenerational understanding as the way forward for Kenya.
Written By Rodney Mbua
