Kaluma issues conditions for dialogue after Raila’s proposal
By Mustafa Juma, July 11, 2025Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has responded sharply to calls for national dialogue, laying out tough conditions and questioning the sincerity behind former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s latest proposal for talks.
In a strongly worded statement issued via his official X account on the night of Friday, July 11, 2025, Kaluma dismissed the idea of unconditional dialogue, accusing a section of the political class of using protests and violence as leverage to force negotiations.
“Dialogue with whom? Where? About what? To what end?” Kaluma posed, expressing frustration with what he described as a pattern of unrest led by one community dissatisfied with leadership outcomes.
Recognition of current leadership
Kaluma argued that Kenya cannot be held hostage by individuals or groups who believe the country can only be stable if power rests with their ethnic group or political allies.
“You can’t dialogue with people who believe Kenya can only be stable if their tribesman is the president! People who believe no one except their tribesmen or a puppet should lead this country! Those who believe Kenya is exclusively owned by them and solely belongs to them?” Kaluma stated.
The MP emphasised that any meaningful dialogue must begin with an unequivocal recognition of the current leadership and an acknowledgement that Kenya belongs equally to all communities.
“Dialogue, if any, must be conditioned upon recognition of the current leadership and a tacit and unequivocal acknowledgement that Kenya equally belongs to all of us,” he wrote on X.
Raila’s dialogue proposal
His remarks follow renewed calls by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Odinga, for intergenerational dialogue in light of rising discontent across the country, particularly among the youth.
Raila, during a press conference on Monday, July 7, 2025, stated that the country should embark on a broad dialogue christened ‘intergenerational conclave,’ whose proposals would be subjected to a referendum.
“I propose an inclusive intergenerational national conclave to hear our people across all divides and come up with the irreducible reforms and changes necessary to take the country forward. I propose that the country urgently return to the agenda of comprehensive police reforms, focusing on enhancing accountability and transparency and improving police-to-people relations.” Raila said.