Bipartisan talks rival teams broker truce, to proceed as on issues of discussion
The bipartisan talks rival teams have brokered truce on the contentious issues and agreed on modalities to discuss them paving way for the continuation of the paralysed dialogue effectively forestalling return of anti-government protests by the opposition.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya, co-chairperson of the Bipartisan Dialogue Committee Otiende Amollo representing the Azimio One Kenya Coalition said both parties tabled their issues and agreed on areas of discussion.
His co-chairman is George Murugara of Kenya Kwanza.
“We refined and settled the respective issues and we had occasioned to have them tabled. On the side Azimio and Kenya Kwanza have both tabled their issues.” Otiende, who is also the Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP) said.
The ensuing Jubilee Party leadership wrangles between two factions allied to Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and enjoying the support of retired president Uhuru Kenyatta on one hand and rival wing championed by MPs Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege have also featured in the bipartisan talks.
Earlier, a faction in Jubilee protested the party’s exclusion from the bipartisan talks and wanted the talks halted until Jubilee is represented.
However, Amollo said Jubilee is still in Azimio and should address its issues with the coalition.
Kenya Kwanza had replaced Keynan with Saku MP Dado Raso (UDA) after Azimio claimed that the Eldas MP could not sit in the talks as Jubilee is a member of Azimio.
Earlier today, Azimio leader Raila Odinga fired a warning shot at the Kenya Kwanza administration accusing its members of attempting to sabotage the ongoing bi-partisan talks.
In a quick dispatch to newsrooms, Raila accused the president William Ruto-led coalition of provoking the opposition to scuttle the ongoing dialogue by crippling Azimio-affiliated parties, especially the Jubilee Party.
He reiterated that the decision by Azimio to engage in dialogue with the government was not arrived at through fear but the desire to achieve stability in the country.
“Kenya Kwanza must take a final notice from us that they risk scuttling a very serious national agenda through shortsighted intransigence, dishonesty and a game of musical chairs. We remind Kenya Kwanza a final time that we did not agree to engage in talks because we are weak. We remain committed to the spirit of peace and stability that necessitated the talks. However, we will never negotiate out of fear.” Raila said.
