NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 9 — Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said renewed dialogue between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza will resume from where the collapsed Parliament-led bipartisan talks ended.
Speaking during an inaugural session at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Azimio co-principal who was tasked to lead the opposition team said the reconstituted dialogue team will review progress made by the committee that preceded it.
Talks by the panel co-chaired by Tharaka MP George Murugara (Kenya Kwanza) and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo (Azimio) collapsed in June after the government side declined to co-sign a letter it considered unlawful.
Murugara had termed Azimio’s demands as extra legal leading to a stalemate early June.
His camp issued an ultimatum saying the IEBC Selection Panel led by Nelson Makanda would proceed with its mandate if the opposition failed to engage even as Amollo accused President William Ruto’s troops of sabotaging talks.
But speaking at the onset of the fresh round of talks, Kalonzo said the Murugara-Amollo team had done “a wonderful job”.
“We take cognizance that the bipartisan team did some wonderful job,they tried the best they could. As we appreciate them, we do not want to throw out everything they have done,” he said.
Kalonzo said fresh talks would seek to sustain progress on issued covered by the the Murugara-Amollo team.
“They did cover some useful ground,” he said.
The Wiper leader called for honest dialogue vowing to put Kenya first ahead of everything.
“These are Kenyan issues. In the interest of the nation we shall negotiate in good faith and genuinely seek a just course for all Kenyans,” he added.
‘No to power-sharing’
The Azimio co-principal insisted that the coalition is not seeking to negotiate for a power sharing deal as projected by the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
“We shall negotiate for any power sharing or personal interest ahead of the interest of Kenyans. We ask for your humble prayers as we seek to find a lasting solution,” he said.
The Raila Odinga-led alliance promised to prioritize the rising cost of living as well as electoral reforms in talks with the ruling coalition.
Azimio returned to the table after bolting out of an initial round of talks citing an externally-mediated agreement.
