Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader, has called off planned protests on Monday to allow for bipartisan discussions on the formation of the country’s electoral commission.
Mr. Odinga spoke an hour after President William Ruto asked him to call a halt to the protests and allow for dialogue.
The opposition has been protesting twice a week against rising living costs, the establishment of a new electoral commission, and the president’s election last year.
President Ruto has agreed to one demand and proposed a bipartisan engagement in parliament on the electoral commission’s reconstitution.
However, he made no mention of the cost of living. He also urged Mr. Odinga to uphold the constitution and the Supreme Court, which upheld his election last year.
Mr. Odinga acknowledged the president’s calls for dialogue and praised Mr. Ruto’s statement in his speech.
However, he warned that if the talks failed, protests would resume within a week.
