Raila Reveals Details of His Secret Meeting With Ruto

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has revealed details of his secret meeting with President William Ruto and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on July 29.

Although Raila, who had previously admitted to holding a meeting with Ruto privately in the presence of Obasanjo, has never disclosed what was discussed.

However, speaking on October 4 during an interview with KTN News, Raila said the meeting was mediated by Obasanjo at an undisclosedlocation in Mombasa on the evening of July 29.

Raila disclosed that the former Nigerian president sat in the middle during the meeting which he said agreed on how to tackle the key issues that had been raised.

“We were only three in the room. There was Obasanjo, Ruto, and myself. Obasanjo was sitting in the middle, Ruto there, and I was here in one room. It took place not in the state house but on some other premises,” Raila said during the interview.

“It(meeting)was in Mombasa. I flew in in the evening and flew back in the morning, and I met my team at midday,” he said.

It was on Sunday, July 30 after meeting Azimio leaders in Nairobi that a statement was released by the opposition confirming the meeting.

The opposition leader did not, however, disclose what Obasanjo said during the face-to-face meeting with Ruto.

Raila said the issue of the high cost of living was key among the issues they deliberated with Ruto before agreeing to call off the anti-government protests.

“The issue of cost of living of number one priority. We wanted the issue of electoral justice to be on the table and third, we wanted the issue around strengthening of multiparty democracy and other constitutional amendments,” Raila disclosed.

In a statement released on Sunday, July 30 afternoon, Raila’s Azimio confirmed that the opposition leader had a meeting with Ruto and which was chaired by Obasanjo.

“This initial meeting was to prepare the ground for honest discussions of the issues we have been raising and those that Kenya Kwanza feels like raising. The meeting was therefore a talk about envisaged talks,'” said former Meru Governor Peter Munya during the press briefing.

During an interdenominational church service in Ukunda, Kwale County, on July 30, President Ruto revealed that he had met the Opposition leader saying they agreed on peace.

Raila had been joined by Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta during the service where they laid flowers and lit candles but left without saying a word.