We dont trust each other, says Ndii on Uhuru-Raila truce

National Super Alliance strategist David Ndii says the opposition’s People’s Assembly formation process, which was suspended on Monday, could be restarted.

Citing previous instances of political betrayal in the country, Dr. Ndii said on Tuesday that the team behind the People’s Assembly process was giving President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga the “benefit of doubt” in their quest to harmonise the country.

Appearing on Citizen Exra show on Citizen TV, Dr. Ndii said the memorandum signed by President Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga last week on Friday “was not a political negotiation” but an initiative of two leaders in their individual capacities, hence, is dependent on personal commitment and could go either way.

“We have a history of betrayal in this country. We are not doing this because we trust each other… We are giving each other the benefit of doubt. We don’t trust each other!” said Dr. Ndii.

“This is a process where two leaders have said they are going out to reconcile their people. This is not a political negotiation but a leadership initiative that requires only commitment… Even for them it’s very difficult. It is a major psychological step for them.”

On Monday, Dr. Ndii, who is also the Chairman of the People’s Assembly Steering Committee, said they had suspended the assembly’s process to allow the unity process kick started by Kenyatta and Odinga to take shape.

“The two leaders have asked us to give them an opportunity to spearhead this process. We have accepted. We acknowledge that it is better to reason together than separately. We are therefore in this spirit suspending the People’s Assembly process,” read the statement.

Ndii, however, noted that the suspension of the People’s Assembly was conditional.

“But this support is not carte blanche, neither is it unconditional. We have impressed upon the leaders of the imperative for this process to be honest, truthful and courageous. Honest, truthful and courageous introspection will acknowledge that tribalism is not an end in itself but a means that has been used to acquire and use political power for unjust enrichment,” he said.

“We have been assured that this initiative will be about the people, will involve the people, and will be validated and owned by the people. But we are alive to the painful history of political betrayal. We know that once crisis subside, leaders can get comfortable and allow the issues of the people to fade into the background.”

Kenyatta and Odinga last week said they would walk the talk in chatting the country into a new chapter and devoid of ethnic undertones for the sake of future generations