Azimio Changes Tune On Parliamentary Bipartisan Talks

The statement, which claimed that National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah did not consult the opposition during the drafting of the motion...

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Apr 18, 2023 - 11:37
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Azimio Changes Tune On Parliamentary Bipartisan Talks
Raila Odinga during a past event. /FILE

Azimio la Umoja Coalition on Tuesday, April 18, declared that it would not take part in the bipartisan talks if the process happens to be parliamentary.

Speaking at the Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (SKM) Centre in Nairobi, the Raila Odinga-led coalition raised issues with the motion proposed by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, arguing that they were not consulted over the upcoming motion.

The statement, which claimed that National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah did not consult the opposition during the drafting of the motion, was read by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Raila Odinga with Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka during the Azimio Kamukunji rally on April 16, 2023. /KALONZO MUSYOKA

The Kenya Kwanza wing had presented a motion at the National Assembly, seeking to establish the bipartisan committee for the talks, prompting Azimio to threaten to pull out of the talks.

“Last evening we learned of a motion drafted by the Kenya Kwanza leadership allegedly aimed at setting up a joint select committee at parliament. The motion is in absolute bad faith.

"We have insisted on an extra-parliamentary process in view of the structures of debate in Parliament and we will therefore not participate in any such parliamentary process,” said Kalonzo.

He reiterated the call by Azimio MPs and Senators to take part in an extra-parliamentary dialogue and nothing more, nothing less.

“We remain committed to an extra-parliamentary dialogue that is honest, transparent, meaningful, and bipartisan in conception and execution. Our members of parliament in both houses shall not be a party to any other process and particularly not the one proposed in the motion by Kenya Kwanza,” he stated.

The former Vice President further revealed that Azimio's bi-partisan team chairperson, Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo was instructed to invite the Kenya Kwanza team for a meeting to set ground rules for the talks.

The coalition issued demands for the Kenya Kwanza wing to meet before the demonstrations, which Kalonzo announced would resume on a weekly basis at the end of Ramadhan, promising further communication on the same.

"We demand that the cost of unga (maize flour), electricity and fuel must be on the table for discussion even before anything else is canvased," read part of the statement. 

Azimio la Umoja further demanded that the President William Ruto-led government must compensate those who were injured or killed during the mass actions that took place for two weeks in Nairobi and other parts of the country. 

"The regime must immediately take up the hospital bills of all Kenyans who sustained injuries as a result of police brutality during the recent protests and demonstrations and pay reparations for those who lost their property and lives," Azimio demanded. 

This is an addition to their existing demands that include the reduction in the cost of unga, fuel, electricity and school fees as well as the opening and audit of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers; bipartisan reform and reconstitution of the IEBC.

They are also calling for the reinstatement of the four IEBC commissioners, that is the infamous Cherera 4 who left office and an end to what they termed as the "buying of MPs which threatens multiparty democracy."

Raila Odinga with Martha Karua while attending a church service at ACK St. Stephen's Cathedral, Nairobi on April 16, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

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