Let Ruto, Raila warn their teams against taking hardline positions

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichiung'wa leading the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza teams in bipartisan talks. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Reports that President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga met recently for the sake of peace is good news for this country.

The bipartisan talks that have just begun are highly welcome and I pray that they will help to resolve the political differences that have threatened our nation.

There is nothing a country can achieve when reeling under the weight of violence and instability, and any government that imagines it can make progress in such a condition is lying to itself.

It is imperative that the talks are conducted within a particular time-frame and concluded so that the country can move forward.

Both President Ruto and Raila should ensure that the talks are not jeopardised by unnecessary hard line stances.

We saw what happened to the initial attempt to launch bipartisan talks. The talks hit a snag, yet Kenyans had high hopes that the negotiating would reach a compromise.

Such quagmires should be avoided by all means. The talks should be held professionally so that we can attain good results.

We are all Kenyans, and all that we need is peace. I am requesting the president to ensure that the talks succeed by stopping his lieutenants from derailing them.

I am similarly requesting the Azimio leader, who I have supported for many years including during the just-concluded general election to do the same.

President Ruto was elected by 7.1 million Kenyans and those who voted for Azimio leader Raila Odinga were about 6.9 million voters. This was a slim margin that no one should brag about. Instead, we should make concerted efforts for the sake of peace, love and unity.

Former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti prayed, a few days before his death, that the cry of many should be heard. Let that be the case today.

In the past, our neighbours, including from countries like Uganda, ran to Kenya in search of peace. Today, under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the country has been stable for decades. That shows that good leadership can change a nation.

Ruto needs to acknowledge that Raila holds a significant support base that cannot be wished away. Therefore, he must respect him and listen to him.

That will solve the political problem in the country. Raila has been there for decades; from the time of President's Daniel arap Moi, during Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta's leadership, he made his contributions.

I request Raila to stop demonstrations. They are not a good way of airing people's grievances. Let us give dialogue a chance. In everything we do, the Bible says that whoever humbles himself, God will lift him up and whoever lifts himself up, God will bring him down (James 4:10).

Even after the talks, Ruto and Raila need to be magnanimous and preach peace. Kenyans must never, again, shed blood because of their political differences. As brothers, should talk to each other and not at each other.

Mr Kemboi is a businessman in Sugoi and President Ruto's neighbour in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu