Azimio Talks: Ichung'wah Picks Lawyer Who Defended Ruto At Supreme Court

Ichung'wah, who also serves as Kikuyu MP, tasked the legal team with ensuring that the talks are transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 11, 2023 - 14:38 Updated: Aug 11, 2023 - 14:41
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Azimio Talks: Ichung'wah Picks Lawyer Who Defended Ruto At Supreme Court
Side by side image of Lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu and Kimani Ichung'wah. /VIRALTEAKE

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has selected renowned lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu among four lawyers forming Kenya Kwanza's technical team ahead of the negotiation talks with Azimio la Umoja.

In a statement released on Friday, August 11, Ichung'wah also selected Linda Musumba, an advocate and senior lecturer at Kenyatta University School of Law as well as advocate Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang', a legal expert and senior lecturer at African Nazarene University to support Thiankolu in the team.

Thiankolu was among a team of 54 lawyers who successfully defended President William Ruto's presidential election victory at the Supreme Court following the 2022 general elections, whose results were petitioned by Azimio under the leadership of Raila Odinga.

During the defence on September 1, 2022, Thiankolu took fault with Raila's claim that Ruto was able to intercept 11,000 forms in eight minutes and alter them, classifying them in the realm of fiction.

Kenya Kwanza Alliance lawyers led by Prof Kivutha Kibwana and Kithure Kindiki file responses at the Supreme Court on Friday, August 26, 2022. /THE JUDICIARY

He added that he was struggling to understand how the fraudster with a laptop intercepted results in the full glare of cameras and agents.

"Are you going to believe the man whose name combines the names of 2 saints names, John & Mark, and the 3rd name Githongo or Arnold Ochieng who produced documents disowned by all the presiding officers?" he posed.

"Even if you were to be as benevolent as Father Christmas, the verdict you would return is that this case is a story full of sound and fury but signifies nothing. Let the works of fiction be left to John Grisham and James Bond," he said.

Meanwhile, Ichung'wah, who also serves as Kikuyu MP, tasked the legal team with ensuring that the talks are transparent and in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

Kenya Kwanza also demanded that the talks with the opposition be streamed live to enhance accountability and transparency. 

The team is set to face Azimio, who also appointed a four-member team that will represent the interests of the coalition in the technical team of the bi-partisan talks.

Adams Oloo, a senior lecturer of political science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi (UoN), Zein Abubakar, a former member of parliament of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and Isabel Githinj, the Kenya Reform Party Secretary General were picked to provide assistance to Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni who is heading the legal and technical team.

"In line with the agreement reached yesterday with the Kenya Kwanza delegation that each party will appoint the four-member Technical Team to assist the Dialogue Committee," a statement by Azimio read in part.

"The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy realisation of the objectives of the dialogue."

As agreed during the first day of bipartisan talks held on Wednesday, August 9, the technical team from both camps will create a proper framework to guide the negotiations starting Monday, August 14. They will also guide the bipartisan team of 10 members selected equally from the two camps. 

Speakers of both Houses will provide Hansard reporters because documents will be generated and they will be presented on the floors of the Senate and National Assembly.

Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Team

The team includes MP Ichung'wah, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga.

Azimio Bipartisan Team

This includes former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, DAP Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okon'go Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.

What Will The Two Teams Debate On?

Among the key issues that the opposition wants to be addressed include the high cost of living, the audit of the 2022 Presidential Election, restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, measures to prevent interference with political parties and outstanding constitutional matters.

As Azimio demanded the review of the 2022 election servers, Kenya Kwanza rejected the inclusion of the opposition into the government, with the two sides yet to formally release a unified list of the issues forming the discussions.

One of the agreements between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza prior to the talks is that they would not reveal the contents of the discussions to the public, with Kalonzo and Ichung'wah agreeing to whip their sides into order and avoid leaking sensitive documents to the media.

Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung'wah shake hands during their first meeting at Bomas of Kenya on August 9, 2023. /KIMANI ICHUNG'WAH

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