Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday, March 28 demanded that President William Ruto must demonstrate respect for multi-party democracy for him to consider having a sit down with him.
Speaking during an interview with the BBC, Raila accused Ruto of not only looking at the opposition in a derogatory manner but also crippling it.
He argued that the post-election activities by the Kenya Kwanza administration were hell-bent on crippling Azimio.
"Ruto has invaded the opposition. We had the majority in the National Assembly, Senators, and Governors but as soon as he won the election, he began a process of dismembering the opposition.
"People who were elected in Azimio are now voting in favor of Ruto. Even Moi respected multiparty democracy," Odinga stated.
The former Prime Minister insisted that Ruto compel the Azimio MPs who decamped to the government to follow constitutional procedure.
"If any member wants to change his or her party, then they must resign from the seat and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate," he reiterated.
Odinga maintained his demands to lower the cost of living, open the elections server and stop the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) still stood.
He further denied claims that President (Rtd.) Uhuru Kenyatta was funding the demonstrations. The ODM chief maintained that while Uhuru was the Azimio chairperson, he was not focused on national politics.
When pressed on the damages incurred during the mass action protests, he maintained that he would not take responsibility for the same.
He further defended protesters captured on camera pelting stones at security officers, stating that they were only responding to provocation by the police.
"There is a difference between offensive and defensive violence. Who is the provocateur in this?
"The police went and sealed the residences and people could not come out. They lobbed teargas at the people in their compounds and people came out to defend themselves and that is why they were throwing stones at the police," Raila stated.
