Ruto Agrees To Open 2022 Election Servers, But On Condition
The lawmaker assured that they were ready to open the servers with the certainty that they won the elections fair and square.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza team on Friday, April 21 expressed that they were ready to engage the Azimio la Umoja coalition regarding its demands to reopen the 2022 General Election servers.
Speaking in Nyeri county, National Assembly leader of the majority, Kimani Ichung'wah affirmed that they needed former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga's team to table their demands before the bipartisan committee.
The lawmaker assured that they were ready to open the servers with the certainty that they won the elections fair and square.
Kenya Kwanza and Azimio leaders during bipartisan talks on April 20, 2023. /TWITTER.MDD
He however faulted the Azimio coalition for relying on political rallies and protests to compel the ruling government to open the servers, adding that debating the issue in rallies was of no help, even as he asked his colleagues to take advantage of the opportunity with the bipartisan committee.
"We want to listen to them, even the servers they want us to open. We have asked them to bring the issue to the table, and not to shout about them in the rallies.
"We will discuss, and if there is a way we will see because we have nothing to hide," stated the Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP).
The lawmaker was in the company of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who did not comment on the matter of the servers.
Ichung'wah however maintained that they would not engage the opposition in terms of a power-sharing deal with the government, adding that the Kenya Kwanza government was legitimately elected.
"Bring all your issues to the table except one issue we are not ready to discuss - a handshake and the sharing of government. That is an issue that Kenyans settled on August 9," the MP stated.
The team led by President William Ruto had earlier dismissed Azimio's demands for the server, arguing that the matter was not etched in the Constitution.
Raila on the other hand had called for the server issue to be addressed outside Parliament owing to allies' claims that Venezuelan hackers were recalled to interfere with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) data. He also argued that Kenyans deserved a say in the debate.
“We agree that a balanced process spearheaded by Members of Parliament from both sides and backed by experts is an appropriate way to proceed. The end product will then be presented to Parliament for approval,” he stated.
The Azimio la Umoja brigade took to the streets towards the end of March 2023 in protests against the Kenya Kwanza administration, clamouring for the servers to be opened as well as the reduction in the cost of living, the reconstitution of IEBC, among other issues.
The bipartisan committee met on Thursday, April 20 with Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and his Tharaka counterpart George Murugara selected to chair the meeting.
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