Governors Step In To Revive Raila-Ruto Talks

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka was chosen to lead the committee

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May 2, 2023 - 16:01
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Governors Step In To Revive Raila-Ruto Talks
CoG Chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru (centre) speaking during a press briefing at the CoG offices in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. /ANNE WAIGURU

The Council of Governors (CoG) on Tuesday, May 2 formed a 10-member committee to oversee talks between the Kenya Kwanza government and the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka was chosen to lead the committee whose goal will be to initiate talks between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

CoG chairperson Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga County) was selected as a member of the team alongside Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir County), and Stephen Sang (Nandi County).

Others include Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Simba Arati (Kisii), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), and Ochillo Ayacko (Migori).

CoG Chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru (centre) during a press briefing at the CoG offices in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. /ANNE WAIGURU

"The purpose of the committee will be to engage the leaders from the two political divides to address the ongoing demonstrations and amicable solutions to ensure stability in the country," read part of the CoG statement.

Waiguru, speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, revealed that the move will seek to put an end to the political stalemate in the country.

"As the COG, we are concerned about the political stalemate in the country and that is why we formed the 10-member committee of governors to help the government and opposition reach an agreement for the sake of Kenya," Waiguru stated.

The intervention by CoG came after the original bipartisan talks collapsed owing to disagreements regarding the inclusion of MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas) and David Pkosing (Pokot South) to the bipartisan committee, and had shown signs of not reviving after Azimio returned to mass action.

The 14-member committee was to hold a meeting on Tuesday, May 2, but it failed to take off after the Azimio team failed to turn up while demanding Keynan's withdrawal.

‘’We have an issue with Azimio, they want talks and demonstrations, there can't be both, we either talk or they demonstrate, and we call on them to resume the talks,” Tharaka MP George Murugara urged.

Murugara, who is the co-chair of the committee said his counterpart Otiende Amollo refused to honour the invite although he remained hopeful that reason will prevail. 

“He indicated that he has reservations over some issues and that they won’t honour the invitation today, but we haven’t given up, in spite of all this we are prepared to bend over and over again whatever the direction we are given so that we make this talks successful, there is no issue bigger than the country, we are ready to listen to them,” he said.

However, in a quick rejoinder, the Azimio team insisted that Keynan must be withdrawn from the committee for talks to resume, with Amollo stating that it was insincere for the Kenya Kwanza coalition to have included Keynan in the team.

Amollo further dismissed the demand for demonstrations to be called off for talks to resume.

“Our position has been clear, it was clear last week it's clear even now, remove Hon Keynan from the committee and we will resume the talks even now,” Otiende said.

‘’They are bringing up the issue of demonstrations, which has never been an agenda of the committee we have no powers to call for or call off demonstrations, that can be dealt with at the level of the constitution and the principals, so it is in bad faith to insist that we call off the demonstrations."

Kenya Kwanza and Azimio leaders during bipartisan talks on April 20, 2023. /TWITTER.MDD

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