Reducing cost of living is our top priority in ongoing talks – Raila

 

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has said that reducing the cost of living is top on the coalition's agenda in the ongoing National Dialogue talks.

Speaking in Kitengela on Sunday, Raila said that is Azimio's first demand in the talks, before any other thing.

"Tunaongea na hao watu lakini cha kwanza ni gharama ya maisha lazima irudi chini. Hio ni sharti number one," he said.

"We are talking with those people but our first demand is that the cost of living comes down."

He further said that their second agenda is ensuring there is electoral justice in the country.

Raila said this would only be done by allowing opening of the election servers.

He said it is also time the President William Ruto's administration to give equal opportunity to all Kenyans seeking jobs.

"Tumesema tunataka kuona wakenya wote wanapata nafasi sawa. Ubaguzi ya ukabila pande ya kazi mpaka ikwishe. (We have said that we want all Kenyans to have equal opportunities. Discrimination based on tribe when giving jobs must come to an end)."

The former Prime Minister noted that this must also extend to University students.

He said all students deserve scholarships, as he faulted the Kenya Kwanza administration's new system of awarding loans and scholarships to students.

Raila said the new system has hiked fees to levels many Kenyans cannot afford.

The Azimio leader said they also had an elaborate healthcare plan that would have worked better than what the Ruto administration is offering Kenyans.

"We want fuel subsidies returned and taxes on fuel reduced. Value Added Tax should be reduced from 16 per cent to 8 per cent as was the case during Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure," Raila said.

The former Prime Minister who had attended an interdenominational prayer service in Kajiado on Sunday made a stopover in Kitengela town, where he made the remarks.

Raila was accompanied by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, Usawa party boss Mwangi wa Iria and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and a host of other leaders.

Also present were a host of MPs from the Azimio coalition, as well as the Kajiado county leadership. BY THE STAR