Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna now says that Azimio leader Raila Odinga will not be speaking for Gen Zs, in the dialogue talks next week.
On Wednesday, Sifuna said that Gen Zs had already said they are partyless and Raila is not their leader.
He, however, said that Raila has people he is leading, who he will be representing at the talks, including himself.
The senator said they also have a stake in Kenya and cannot sit out when things are happening to improve the country.
“Baba (Raila Odinga) did not say he was going to speak on behalf of Gen Z. Gen Z said they are leaderless, and he is not their leader. But Baba has people he is leading, not everyone is leaderless or partyless,” he said.
“I have a party and I’m the secretary general and we also have a stake in this country. We cannot just sit and be quiet when things are happening in the country.”
He went on to question why it should be a problem for the ODM leader to be part of the proposed dialogue, when the youths held talks with President William Ruto on X, last week.
Sifuna insisted that it is the collective efforts of Kenyans that can take the country forward, and that is the reason Raila will participate in the talks.
“Young people had their X Space with the President, did you see Sifuna or Raila there? Raila is a leader. Not everyone in Kenya is leaderless, some have leaders and the leaders want to dialogue because it is all of us who can build this country,” he said.
Sifuna’s remarks were in response to the backlash witnessed on social media over calls to hold a six-day dialogue next week.
President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila agreed to commence a six-day multi-sectorial forum.
The forum, set to begin on Monday, July 15 and conclude on Saturday, will foster national dialogue and seek lasting solutions to Kenya’s pressing issues.
Ruto emphasised the importance of the forum stating that it will propose the way forward for the country.
“This forum will begin on Monday, next week and end on Saturday next week, it will be a 6-day forum and will propose the way forward for the country,” Ruto said
The ODM leader reiterated the importance of the forum, saying that it will give Kenyans a chance to be heard.
“Dialogue is the way forward out of the crisis we’re having in our country,” Raila added.
“We have agreed that we give people an opportunity to be heard, to express themselves so that a lasting solution can be found.”
