Azimio One Kenya Coalition has picked Wiper Party boss Kalonzo Musyoka to lead opposition’s panel in negotiation talks with the Kenya Kwanza dialogue panel to broker truce between them and government on contentious issues affecting the country among them the skyrocketing cost of living.
The Musyoka-led team will include Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi, Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni respectively.
“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.” A quick dispatch to newsrooms by the Azimio team reads in part.
This comes after President William Ruto revealed that he held talks with Opposition leader Raila Odinga to end the violent anti-government protests witnessed in the country.
The president Ruto-Raila talks were brokered by the former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo where they agreed to form a ten-member team to hold talks aimed at ending the social, economic and political situation facing Kenyans.
In a statement, the Raila team said they 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 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Inclusivity in national affairs and respect for political parties in line with the Constitution.
Ruto’s bandwagon is yet to appoint a team to represent them in the deliberations aimed at unlocking the stalemate between the two opposing sides with Azimio indicating that the talks should begin tomorrow.
Both sides were required to appoint a five-member team; two Members of Parliament, two members from outside Parliament and the leader of the parliamentary leadership.
The Head of State assured that going forward violence will no longer be part of Kenyan politics.
“As the Head of State, I am obligated to make sure that every Kenya-whether they support my policy or not, their security, right to life and safety of property and business is guaranteed.” Ruto noted.
“We can compete in anything but we cannot have a leader either past, present or future that will plan chaos and bloodshed. That will not happen in Kenya.” The president added.
Ruto noted that some of the key issues raised by the opposition were captured in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto and will be addressed in due course.