Kenyan Newspapers: Raila Odinga Disowns Fresh Talk Agenda With William Ruto Over Cost Of Living Stalemate

On Monday, July 31, the national dailies reported on the differences between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Most dailies also reported about the rising cost of essential commodities as new taxes take effect.

1. The Standard

The publication reported on the disagreement between Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party over the agendas to be discussed in the new talks.

According to the statement released by the National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah, the new team is expected to discuss five key issues.

Among the issues to discussed include the reconstitution of the electoral commission, implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund, establishment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and finally, the embedment of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

However, ODM leader Raila Odinga dismissed the agenda released by Ichung'wah after the issue of cost of living was omitted.

The opposition insisted that the high-cost of living should be on the agenda to be discussed by the new dialogue team.

“Our priority for discussion is the escalating cost of living which has only got worse with the lifting of the conservatory order on the 2023 Finance Act last week,” an Azimio statement read in the presence of Raila by former CS Peter Munya said.

2. The Star

Senator and celebrated activist Okiya Omtatah took his battle against the implementation of the Contentious Finance Act 2023 to the Supreme Court, the paper reported.

Dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal's decision, Omtatah filed a notice of motion that cost him KSh 450 on Sunday, July 30.

Omtatah, alongside Eliud Karanja Matindi, Benson Odiwuor Otieno, Blair Angima Oigoro, who are the first, second, fourth and fifth respondents in the matter by Ndung'u notified the Supreme Court that they intended to appeal against the entire decision of the three judges.

The move comes after three Court of Appeal judges lifted the suspension on implementing the Finance Act 2023.

Justices Mohammed Warsame, Kathurima M’Inoti and Hellen Omondi ruled in favour of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u, who claimed the government was losing KSh 500,000,000 daily due to the freeze.

3. Daily Nation

The paper highlighted the expected sugar price increase after the government introduced excise duty on imports and temporarily shut down local production.

The introduction of the excise duty followed the implementation of the Finance Act 2023 after the court lifted stay orders on Friday, July 28.

Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration introduced an excise duty of KSh 5 per kilogramme of imported sugar to promote local manufacturing.

To make matters worse, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Authority issued directives to local sugar millers to suspend operations until November 2023.

With few sugar millers in operation and the introduction of exercise duty on imported sugar, traders are expected to increase sugar prices.

Currently, the price of 2kg of sugar ranges between KSh 460 and KSh 500, depending on the shop.

4. The People Daily

The publication centred on Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo's insistence that there was no data breach in the attempted cyber attack.

Owalo assured Kenyans that the hackers targeting the government and private institutions did not manage to infringe the privacy.

According to the CS, the attempted cyber attack was unsuccessful as the security system on the platform blocked the invasion.

“I want to assure Kenyans that their data captured in the digital platform is very secure and has not been interfered with. We have over 5,000 services being offered online and this is a huge milestone towards embracing technology,” Owalo stated.

5. Taifa Leo

The Swahili publication reported on the firm stand taken by Kenya Kwanza Alliance lawmakers on the new talks between Raila and Ruto.

The lawmakers, allied to President Ruto, announced in Nandi County, where they warned the Executive arm against engaging in power-sharing to resolve the country's anti-government protests.

Led by Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba, Sabatia MP Clement Sloya, and Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto, called on the president not to engage in any dialogue with Raila Odinga.

According to the lawmakers, a handshake between Ruto and the ODM leader will undermine the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

"We are warning President Ruto against shaking hands with Raila Odinga. If he does, he will be betraying the people of Kenya who voted for him," said Kipchumba.