Ruto Team Announces Resumption Of Bipartisan Talks Amidst Kamukunji Rally

The Kenya Kwanza bipartisan talks team on Tuesday, June 27 announced that the bipartisan talks will resume on Tuesday, July 4.

The team led by their chair, Tharaka Member of Parliament (MP) George Murugara, wants the bipartisan talks to resume, thus extending an invitation to the Azimio la Umoja coalition team.

Murugara further noted that the talks on the recruitment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners will be on the agenda of the talks, noting that the IEBC selection panel will proceed with the recruitment of the commissioners if the opposing side fails to show up for the meeting.

Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Committee members led by Co-chairperson George Murugara addressing the media at Parliament Buildings on June 27, 2023. /TWITTER.ESTHER OKENYURI

“The country cannot be held at ransom in regards to the reconstitution of IEBC,” Murugara said in his final warning to Azimio.

“We will invite Azimio for a meeting on Tuesday, I will be communicating to my co-chair Otiende Amollo.”

Addressing a press conference at Parliament buildings, the Kenya Kwanza team led by the Tharaka MP accused the Azimio faction of holding the country at ransom.

Nominated Senator, Esther Okenyuri, reiterated Murugara's appeal to Azimio to resume the talks, noting that some constituencies and wards have by-elections in waiting and the stalling is only endangering the recruitment process.

"The Kenya Kwanza team calls on the Azimio team to Resume Bipartisan talks to urgently discuss the Reconstitution of IEBC or allow the recruitment process to continue in accordance with the current Law.

"Currently, there are Constituencies and Wards which are awaiting By-elections and the constituents' rights are being abused for lack of representation in relevant legislative houses. The recruitment was stopped on the request of Azimio to allow for talks," she wrote on Twitter.

Azimio Counter

Speaking at Kamukunji Grounds during the public engagement rally, former CS Eugene Wamalwa announced that Azimio had decided to end the bipartisan talks.

"There will be no more talks. Our co-chairman, Amollo, has asserted that there will be no more discussions," he stated.

Kenya Kwanza's plea to resume the talks is seen as a counter to Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga's announcement at Kamukunji grounds, Nairobi, with the President William Ruto-led government seeking to extend an olive branch to the opposition minutes before Raila announced the way forward with the majority hinting that he would announce the resumption of maandamano.

Azimio on Wednesday, May 31 suspended the bipartisan talks with Kenya Kwanza yet again after claiming that they were shortchanged by Ruto's team.

Azimio notified the Kenya Kwanza co-char, George Murugara that the opposition coalition had frozen the talks over alleged laxity in actualising an earlier agreement.

The Rarieda Member of Parliament had accused the Kenya Kwanza representative of reneging on the consigning of a letter which was aimed at stopping the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).