NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has poured cold water on Azimio La Umoja coalition agenda on lowering the cost of living through bi-partisan talks saying it’s an exercise in futility.
Kingi stated that the dialogue between the two opposing sides will yield nothing for Kenyans given the laid-out agenda by the Opposition Coalition.
The Opposition Coalition stated that the team will be required to engage in dialogue on four thematic areas which include ways to lower the escalating cost of life and the audit of 2022 presidential elections.
Others include the bipartisan reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Inclusivity in national affairs and respect for political parties in line with the Constitution.
“I don’t want to be a prophet of doom but I have been in this space long enough to oberve something. Nothing will come out of these called talks but something will come out from this plan that the president has,”said Kingi.
The Former Kilifi Governor noted that the agenda issues raised by the Raila Odinga-led coalition are currently being considered by the bicameral house which is guided by the constitution hence no need for bi-partisan talks.
“Some of these issues we are already fixing them. We are fixing IEBC, the issue of the two third gender rule.Do we need some people to see somewhere using taxpayers money to discuss something that MPs are seized of,” the Senate Speaker Said.
During the interdenominational service in Sagana state lodge, Nyeri County, Kingi reiterated that the anti-government protest staged by the Azimio La Umoja coalition is meant to disrupt the delivery of President William Ruto’s pledges.
“The cost of living will not be lowered by demonstration or two men sitting in a room discussing but it can be lowered when the President can be allowed to focus on his plan fully,” said Kingi.
The initial talks for the bi-partisan talks is set to commence next week even though the two opposing sides have not agreed on the date for the dialogue.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya had written to Ichung’wah seeking an initial joint meeting with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance on Monday, August 7 to kick start the proposed dialogue.
In a letter, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka who is leading Azimio’s five-member team in the dialogue called for a speedy resolution of the standoff between the two opposing sides citing anxiety among Kenyans.
Kenya Kwanza had tabled a counter-proposal on the initial meeting for bipartisan talks with the opposition Azimio Coalition, suggesting August 10 as its preferred date to kick-start inter-party dialogue.
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 Ichung’wah said Kenya Kwanza had a scheduled induction session.
The ruling coalition also rejected Azimio’s proposal to have talks held at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel citing austerity measures.
They proposed Parliament’s County Hall or the Kenya School of Government as alternatives.
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).
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).
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.
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.
