Opiyo Wandayi Champions Dialogue as Pillar of Peace, Unity and National Development
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi has backed calls for national dialogue, urging leaders to embrace it as a tool for peace and development. He credited the 2023 NADCO talks for reconstituting the IEBC and easing political tensions. Wandayi also expressed hope for future unity among Ruto, Raila, and Kalonzo.
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Posted by TV47 Digital on Friday 18 July 2025
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has strongly defended calls for dialogue as a fundamental path to solving Kenyas political and social challenges, urging both leaders and citizens to embrace it despite resistance from some quarters.
Speaking during his working tour of Kitui East on Friday, July 18, 2025, Wandayi said Kenya’s development depends on peace, unity and mutual understanding — which are only possible through open and honest conversation among leaders and citizens alike. “Any development-conscious nation must have peace and unity among its people. No conflict can ever be resolved without dialogue,” he emphasized.
Wandayi pointed out that past political tensions, particularly those witnessed in 2023, were successfully managed through structured talks between rival political camps. He cited the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) — a platform that brought together representatives from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio la Umoja coalition — as a successful example of political negotiation and national healing.
According to the CS, NADCO’s key achievement was the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which had been in limbo following the 2022 elections. “If there is any achievement realized from NADCO, then it is the IEBC. Without NADCO, we would not be having a fully constituted electoral body,” he said, noting that dialogue had yielded tangible and far-reaching results for the country.
Wandayi also singled out Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as a key player in the success of the dialogue initiative, saying the current IEBC structure owes much to his leadership and vision. “Citizens and leaders should not oppose dialogue. I can say with confidence that the IEBC as currently constituted is a product of Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, whom I deeply respect,” he added.
The CS also hinted at a potential political alignment between President Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga, and Kalonzo Musyoka, expressing confidence that the trio could work together for the benefit of the nation. He dismissed ethnic and divisive politics, saying Kenya’s progress depends on unity among leaders. “I believe Kalonzo, Raila, and Ruto can eventually join hands. Politics of malice, tribalism, and lawlessness have no place in modern society,” he said.
His remarks come amid ongoing tensions within the opposition, following a fallout between Raila and his former allies after his surprise agreement with President Ruto. The deal, which led to the inclusion of ODM politicians in the Kenya Kwanza administration, reportedly irked other Azimio partners, including Kalonzo, Jubilee Party, DAP-K, and Martha Karua’s PLP.
The fallout has led to realignments within the opposition, with Martha Karua and others joining the recently formed United Opposition Movement. Despite the friction, Wandayi maintained that inclusive political dialogue — not confrontation — remains the best way forward.
Wandayi’s endorsement of dialogue reflects a growing sentiment among some political leaders that Kenya must shift from personality-driven politics to issue-based engagement that focuses on service delivery and democratic strengthening. As the country prepares for the 2027 general election, he insisted that national interests must override personal ambitions.
He concluded by calling on all stakeholders — from political leaders to ordinary citizens — to support mechanisms that foster unity and peaceful coexistence, saying that Kenya’s future lies not in political battles, but in shared goals and national consensus.