Kisumu County Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has cautioned President William Ruto that his Kenya Kwanza administration risks squandering a chance to bring the country together if the Bipartisan Talks fail.
In a statement to newsrooms, Nyong'o on Thursday asked President Ruto to demonstrate leadership and seize the opportunity to achieve what none of his predecessors have managed to do, which is achieve sustainable long-term national unity.
According to Nyong'o, the country is at cross-roads, and the situation is being complicated by members of the Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Committee who have maintained hardline stances.
"We are aware that the talks have been facing some challenges ostensibly on the constitution of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission among other issues, but remain focused on the intent and content of the dialogue.
"We have come a long way as a country from the dark moments of our history and must as a people, continue to struggle unwaveringly against all forces of obscurantism," the statement read in parts.
Nyong'o reminded leaders from both sides that time is running out and that the faster they conclude these talks, the better it will be for the country.
"Let us tone down hardliner attitudes and embrace dialogue. That we must stay together because when we divert our focus, we will never succeed and come out of the quagmire we are in as a country.
"We should never allow selfishness, egotistic and chauvinistic ways replace the cause we have believed in for so long," Nyong'o warned leaders.
Further, the Kisumu Governor explained that it is only the bipartisan talks that will get the country out of the current political stalemate.
"We believe that no Kenyan citizen has to endure subhuman living conditions. Every Kenyan must have adequate food, decent shelter and clothing, adequate health, security and gainful employment.
"It is your right to enjoy the minimum standards of human existence. The satisfaction of basic needs is a human right at per with the right to life," the statement read in parts.
Governor Nyong'o also noted that as one of the governors whose county bore the brunt of the protests including deaths, he will support the dialogue and would prefer if the talks culminated in a positive outcome as per the wishes of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
