NAIROBI, Kenya May 5- The joint bi-partisan team, tasked with negotiations between Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, is yet to reach a consensus on the thorny issues before formal talks can commence.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and his Tharaka counterpart George Murugara, who co-chair the team, said they were set to reach a consensus on the matters in the week commencing May 8, 2023.
The opposing sides are yet to agree on the framework of issues to be discussed and the process of formalization.
“We wish to report that on those two issues, we have made tremendous progress and it’s a work in progress. We haven’t finalized but we will finalize early next week,” said Amollo.
The Azimio Coalition is pushing for talks focusing on four areas, including the high cost of living and the reinstatement of the Cherera Four.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance wants talks to revolve around the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The team has not agreed on whether the talks will be parliamentary or ex-parliamentary, hindering the commencement of formal talks.
“We are going to explore whether the talks will be parliamentary, ex parliamentary or through an executive order. We will engage come next week back to back,” Amollo noted.
The team, which has expressed goodwill, is also yet to agree on the timeline for concluding formal talks.
“We will have to look at the best of the timelines and the amount of work that should be done. It’s important we give it the commitment it deserves so fact Kenyans can get what they deserve,” said Murugara.
This comes even as they formally appointed Azimio’s Paul Mwangi and Kenya Kwanza’s Muthomi Thiankolu as joint Secretaries.
Both teams have since appointed Paul Mwangi (Azimio) and Muthomi Thiankolu (Kenya Kwanza) as joint secretaries.
The ruling coalition announced on Wednesday that it had replaced Keynan with Diddo Raso, moments after the Azimio coalition issued a statement saying it is ready to call off planned protests.
“We appreciate the statement by Azimio on the resumption of talks. We appreciate the reconciliation tone from Azimio,” said Kimani Ichungwah, the Majority Leader in the National Assembly in a joint statement with his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot.
“We have consulted with Keynan and he has agreed to recuse himself so that we make progress,” they said, “We have agreed to nominate Diddo Rasso so that these talks can continue.”
A statement issued earlier by Azimio and which was signed by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka states that the coalition was ready to call off protests if only Keynan is replaced.
“This was the offer I made on Sunday,” Kalonzo said, “all our other conditions remain the same.” The coalition was yet to officially call off the protests set for Thursday by the time this article was published.
The Raila Odinga-led coalition has been holding protests over the high cost of living and alleged electoral fraud and had vowed to resume demonstrations on Thursday unless their demands are addressed.
Key on the demand was the replacement of Keynan, whom they said belongs to their coalition and cannot therefore negotiate for Kenya Kwanza which he “purports to have joined.”
Odinga narrowly lost to President William Ruto — his fifth presidential election defeat — and continues to insist that the poll was fraudulent and that victory was “stolen”.
