Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said he will not engage in the national dialogue proposed by President William Ruto yet, as “justice must come before talks.”

In a letter to the Kenyan youth on Sunday, Odinga said he stands in solidarity with the young generation which has led anti-government protests for over one month.

Odinga listed demands that the government has to meet before he engages in the six-day multi-sectoral dialogue forum proposed by President William Ruto on July 9, 2024.

Then, the former Prime Minister had backed Ruto’s dialogue push, terming it “the best way forward out of the crisis we are having today as a country.”

In a change of tune now, Odinga has told the young generation that he will not engage in the dialogue unless there is;

· Compensation for every victim of police brutality

· Dismissal of all protest-related cases

· Release of all abductees and those in jail  

· Resolution of outstanding healthcare (healthcare workers' welfare) and education (JSS Teachers) grievances

· A reverting of our public healthcare insurance back to NHIF and to discard SHIF

· A prosecution of all security sector perpetrators who've facilitated atrocities on peaceful Kenyans.

Odinga said that once the issues are resolved, “we can focus on a National Conversation, and conducted transparently in a neutral venue.”

“It is my proposal that representatives for this convention should come from various sectors including youth, government, religious leaders, health care professionals, lawyers, and teachers,” he added.

The opposition leader argued that the national conversation should address national and constitutional matters including;

· Good governance

· Skyrocketing cost of living

· Eradicating tribalism

· Fighting corruption

· Debt and fiscal management

The talks proposed by Ruto were meant to start on July 15, but are now faced by uncertainty.