Obasanjo Absent Again as Ruto-Raila Talks Commence
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo was absent for the second time during mediation negotiations between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s troops.
It is unknown whether Obasanjo, who is believed to have mediated the truce between the two parties, will lead the talks. The 10-member team held its first meeting on Friday to discuss the process of harmonizing the dialogue agenda.
In a recent letter, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi confirmed that Obasanjo will oversee the process.
“We, the leadership of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, having consulted with the leadership of Kenya Kwanza under the facilitation of Olusegun Obasanjo on the state of our nation, desirous of a democratic and peaceful resolution of issues that beset our nation,” the statement reads.
“…We have therefore agreed with Kenya Kwanza to establish a committee of ten (10), composed of five members each from Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza.”
On Monday, however, the two teams met without the mediator casting a wrench into the anticipated resolution process for the political dispute between Ruto and Raila.
After a three-hour-long meeting, none of the leaders spoke to the media.
Kenya Kwanza had last week accused Azimio’s leadership of violating the ground rules for the planned negotiations.
The leader of the majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, stated that the side violated a condition imposed by Obasanjo by mentioning him in public statements.
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“Honouring the request by former Nigerian President Obasanjo not to be mentioned in any public statement, we regret the lack of decency by Azimio in not respecting this request,” Ichung’wah said in a statement on Wednesday last week.
Since then, both parties have agreed that the discussions will not center on a power-sharing agreement.
Azimio’s concerns include the cost of living, an audit of the results of the presidential election in 2022, the reorganization and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, and measures to prevent interference with political parties.
Other outstanding constitutional issues include governance concerns, the need for adequate checks and balances, and the issue of boundary delimitation.
The Kenya Kwanza has enumerated the reconstitution of the IEBC, the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, the embedding of the Constituency Development Fund, the establishment and embedding of the Office of the Opposition Leader, and the embedding of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okon’go Omogeni, and MPs Opiyo Wandayi and Amina Mnyazi comprise the Azimio delegation.
Ichung’wah will command the Kenya Kwanza team, which will also include Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar, and Bungoma Woman representative Catherine Wambilianga.
Obasanjo Absent Again as Ruto-Raila Talks Commence
