Ruto Issues Demands To Raila After Unveiling Team For Bipartisan Talks

President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group on Tuesday, April 11 urged the opposition to adhere to the rule of law and deal with issues they raised of concern using the established government institutions.

In a press briefing at State House in Nairobi, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot revealed that the PG would resist any attempts by the Azimio la Umoja coalition to implement policies that failed in the previous government.

He further asserted that the government would run the country in line with the Constitution and it would resist any attempt by the opposition to force the government into blackmail.

Senator Aaron Cheruiyot addressing the media outside State House on April 11, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

"We are not refusing to take advice, we will listen to every Kenyan but we find it rather difficult to take advice from the very people that placed us in the mess we're in today," Cheruiyot noted.

On his part, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah responded to Azimio's demands to reinstate the infamous Cherera 4 at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) by arguing that there was no indication in the Constitution for reinstating state officers who resigned voluntarily or have been fired, as was the case with the quartet.

Ichung'wah was in support of the government policy of subsidising production rather than consumption, adding that the Kenya Kwanza administration agreed with the President on a parliamentary bipartisan approach to address the issues affecting Kenyans.

The 7-member team that was constituted during the PG was meant to strictly adhere to the Constitution in addressing the matters raised by the opposition.

They include Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Tharaka MP George Murugara, nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan.

Others were Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei and Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika.

Azimio had previously unveiled their 7-member team to represent them in the 14-member committee. They include Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina and his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna as well as Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua.

The rest of Raila's confidants came from the National Assembly and they include Amina Mnyanzi (Malindi), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Otiende Amollo (Rarieda).

"The joint committee should recommend measures to lower the cost of unga, fuel, electricity and school fees and conduct a review and forensic audit of the servers used by the IEBC before, during, and after the 2022 presidential election.

"Review the appointment and dismissal of IEBC Commissioners, including their tenure of office, and recommend institutional, policy, legal, and constitutional mechanisms, restructuring and reforms of the IEBC," read Raila's statement released after the PG meeting which was also attended by the coalition's top leadership including NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua.

Azimio however handed Kenya Kwanza its first hurdle hours after the reveal, with Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi expressing an issue with appointing Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan Wehliye, a member of the Jubilee party which is an affiliate of the Azimio coalition and Kibwezi West MP, Mwengi Mutuse of Maendeleo Chap Chap.

"The idea of killing political parties is one of the issues that we would like to address in the Bi-partisan Committee. Legally, Maendeleo Chap Chap and Jubilee Party remain bonified members of the Azimio la Umoja Coalition," Wandayi stated.

Keynan decamped to join the government after Azimio La Umoja lost the 2022 General Election. Maendeleo Chap Chap decamped from the Azimio coalition days to the 2022 elections.

Former Party Leader of Maendeleo Chap Chap, Alfred Mutua, is currently the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs in President Ruto's administration.

President Ruto, CS Alfred Mutua, and Fortescue Future Industries leaders pose for a photo after the signing of an agreement that will see Kenya produce green ammonia and green fertilizer. /STATE HOUSE KENYA