Raila, Ruto Suspend Bipartisan Talks

Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja bipartisan teams on Tuesday, April 25 suspended the bipartisan talks.

Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo indicated through a statement that the talks had reached a stalemate after Azimio indicated that the two teams failed to reach a consensus regarding the inclusion of MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas) and David Pkosing (Pokot South) to the bipartisan committee.

According to Amollo, who spoke in Nairobi at a hotel, the team was left with three options; either or both Keynan (Kenya Kwanza) and Pkosing (Azimio) choose to step down from the team.

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

Another option was for both parties to withdraw their objections to Keynan and Pkosing and retain them in the bipartisan team.

The last option was up to Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga, and President William Ruto to decide to withdraw either of the two MPs upon their choosing.

"Until then, we have hit a stalemate and chose to suspend these talks until such time as there may be consensus or position changes. Adan Keynan, who defected to Kenya Kwanza, is not a Jubilee member. He is in Azimio Coalition - as a vice chair deputising Wycliffe Oparanya (former Kakamega governor).

"We have not had an issue of principle on Pkosing. He is a member of the KUP Party, which signed a pre-election agreement with Azimio," Amollo stated.

Amollo further argued that KUP, led by former West Pokot governor, John Krop Lanyangapuo, had indicated in April 2023 that it was in the process of moving to withdraw from the Azimio coalition

"To date, no agreement to withdraw from Azimio. Pkosing is the deputy leader and has not made any indication to move. He is also the deputy treasurer in Azimio.

"This shows that the Pkosing issue was made as an afterthought to appear as if we are on the same pedestal with the grievance we raised on Keynan's issue. It's a basis of intention, not reality," he added.

On Kenya Kwanza's side, the coalition responded to Azimio by noting that they agreed to accommodate their demands, including the listing of a secretariat led by lawyer Paul Mwangi as well as the engagement of their principals regarding Keynan's inclusion.

The ruling coalition proposed a separate meeting between Raila, Ruto and the bipartisan chairs to address the issues.

"On the part of Kenya Kwanza, we have agreed that we require further consultations with the principles of the coalitions so that we are able to move forward," Tharaka Member of Parliament George Gitonga stated.

Gitonga believed that both the principals (Raila and Ruto) could opt to withdraw the matter for their objections on Keynan and Pkosing, which would let them participate in the talks, terming it a win for both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.

"The third option we have is that both members sit down and evaluate themselves and make voluntary resignations. The coalition principles can either decide to nominate another person or leave the numbers as they are," Gitonga added.