NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 — Kenya Kwanza has rejected Azimio’s proposal to host bipartisan talks at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel expressing concerns over wasteful expenditure.
Responding to Kalonzo Musyoka’s request to convene talks at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel on Monday, August 7, the ruling coalition’s head of delegation, House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah proposed Parliament’s County Hall or the Kenya School of Government as alternatives.
“We respectfully request your team to allow the two teams to schedule our meetings at public venues,” Ichung’wah stated.
Kenya Kwanza also tabled a counter-proposal on the initial meeting for bipartisan talks , suggesting August 10 as its preferred date to kick-start inter-party dialogue.
The House Majority Leader said Kenya Kwanza had a scheduled induction session.
“While appreciating the urgency to embark on the talks, it is worth noting that having just constituted our team, we had a scheduled debrief on Monday with our team in order to prepare for the talks and a further engagement with the Bi-Partisan team and their assisting counsels on Tuesday 8th August 2023,” Ichung’wah said in a statement on Friday.
Kenya Kwanza Alliance unveiled its five-member team for talks with the opposition Azimio Coalition on Wednesday even as the government side accused Raila Odinga of breaching ground rules.
Ichun’gwah (UDA) however castigated the Opposition for breaching a condition by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo not to mention him in public statements.
“Honouring the request by former Nigerian President Obasanjo not to be mentioned in any public statement, we regret the lack of decency by Azimio in not respecting this request,” Ichung’wah said in a dispatch on Wednesday.
The Ichung’wah-led team includes Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (UDA), Embu Governor and UDA Party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar (UDA) and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilanga (Ford Kenya).
Contested agenda
Kenya Kwanza constituted its team days after Azimio accused the government side of being dishonest on envisaged talks and deliberate misrepresentation of “facts”.
Ichung’wah’s team listed a five-point agenda including reconstitution of IEBC, implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund, establishment the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedding the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary in statute.
“For the avoidance of doubt. As Agreed, violence shall no longer and shall never be part of our nation’s political discourse. As agreed, there shall be no discussion of whatever nature on matters handshake or nusu mkate,” Ichung’wad said.
The opposition team led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka contested Kenya Kwanza’s failure to include the cost of living, electoral reforms and alleged cases of police brutality as part of the agenda for proposed talks.
“Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise.”
“Azimio will respect Kenya Kwanza’s right to bring all its issues to the table. We expect Kenya Kwanza to do the same with our issues,” the opposition remarked.
Musyoka’s team includes National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi (ODM), Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi (ODM), Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni (ODM).
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The renewed attempt for dialogue follows the collapsed of a parliamentary process initiated in April after President William Ruto agreed on talks following a spate of violent opposition protests.
Collapsed talks
Azimio side bolted out of structured talks on the reconstitution of the electoral commission, IEBC, sparking another round of protests over what Odinga termed as high cost of living.
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The talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza hit a snag after the government side declined to co-sign a letter it considered unlawful.
Tharaka MP George Murugara, co-chair of the bi-partisan team had termed Azimio’s demands as extra legal leading to a stalemate early June.
The Murugara-led camp issued an ultimatum saying the IEBC Selection Panel led by Nelson Makanda would proceed with its mandate if the opposition failed to engage.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo (Azimio) who co-chaired bi-partisan team with Murugara accused President Ruto’s troops of sabotaging talks.
