Azimio present five agenda items as bi-partisan talks resume tomorrow at Bomas of Kenya
The make or break of the bi-partisan talks will be determined tomorrow upon the resumption of the national dialogue successfully pushed through by the opposition’s Azimio One Kenya Coalition amid reconstituted negotiating teams between the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio.
Among the five key agendas the opposition leader Raila Oding’s led team has presented include the high cost of living, audit of the 2022 presidential election results, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and related matters and measures to prevent interference with political parties.
Kenya Kwanza on the other hand listed a five-point agenda excluding the cost of living, a matter said the government was competent enough to address.
The issues are the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of 2/3 gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The reconstituted by-partisan talks spearheaded by House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and former Vice President and Azimio co-principal who is also Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are set to kick-off tomorrow following the appointment of technical teams by both sides.
Last week, Ichung’wah named Kenya Kwanza’s 4-member technical team comprising of Muthoni Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang as a follow-up to an inaugural meeting held at Nairobi’s Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday last week.
Ichung’wah who is leading the president William Ruto’s team said the technical team will play a key role in backing the government delegation.
“This team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation.” He noted.
“Kenya Kwanza remains firmly committed to open and productive dialogue and reaffirms that we will engage in the talks with utmost good faith and firm commitment to our Constitution and the Laws of Kenya.” He added.
Kalonzo listed beleaguered Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, roots party leader George Wajackoyah and ex-governor Mwangi Wa Iria as members of his technical team.
“The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy realization of the objectives of the dialogue. We want all Kenyans to understand that engaging in honest dialogue does not amount to surrender or cowardice.” Azimio said in a statement last week.
The technical teams will help draft the agenda for the 10-member dialogue committee between the government and the opposition.
The committee held its inaugural meeting after a push-and-pull over the framework and venue for talks that threatened to collapse the proposed dialogue.
Kalonzo described the first sitting at the Bomas of Kenya as successful saying the main agenda will begin tomorrow August 14, 2023.
