President William Ruto says the cost of living will not feature in the said talks with the Opposition.
President Ruto says the Government is already implementing robust measures that will see living expenses ease.
“It is clear; we are effectuating our Manifesto that is heavy on reducing the cost of living,” he explained.
He said Kenya was on course to producing surplus food this year due to the Government’s deliberate plan to subsidise production.
The President observed that protests marked by destruction of property and loss of lives will not curtail the price of living.
He warned the Opposition to keep off violent demonstrations.
“We will not negotiate about the safety of our country,” said President Ruto.
He also asked the youth not to participate in anything that can cause destruction.
He was speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Ukunda, Kwale County.
Present were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi, Governors Fatuma Achani (Kwale) and Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), MPs, among other leaders.
The President, who also addressed wananchi in Likoni, asked leaders to shun divisive politics and focus on serving the people.
“We need to work together, our pursuasions notwithstanding, to transform Kenya,” said President Ruto.
He said the Government was now in charge of the country’s economic affairs using locally-generated resources.
The Head of State maintained that is how it had managed to disburse funds to counties and constituencies way ahead of time since the promulgation of the current Constitution.
“We have a unique opportunity to unlock the potential that we have and break the poverty and hunger cycles in our country,” President Ruto said.
Wetang’ula said it is only through sound policies that Kenya can move forward.
He asked President Ruto to focus on the needs of Kenyans.
“We will not pretend to engage with leaders who are bad examples to our politics,” said the National Assembly Speaker.
Kingi wondered why issues on the cost of living called for mediation.
“You do not need [Olesegun] Obasanjo to guide the strategies to make life affordable in Kenya,” pointed out Mvurya.
Kwale Governor said her focus was on engaging in issues that will lessen poverty in the area.