Bipartisan Talks Stalled as Ball Lands in Ruto and Raila’s Court
While the bipartisan parliamentary committee holds its inaugural meeting, President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga will resolve contentious issues that threaten political crisis negotiations.
In separate meetings yesterday, the leadership of both coalitions and the 14-member committee were unable to resolve thorny issues. The government wants the mediation team, terms of reference, and negotiations to be entirely parliamentary-driven.
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Sources say the two leaders will also address the opposition’s requests to audit last year’s presidential election servers and reconstitute the electoral commission, including whether to reinstate poll commissioners who resigned or were fired for sympathizing with Mr. Odinga.
It was not immediately clear whether this signified a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, and if so, when.
After weeks of wrangling over the engagement’s parliamentary framework, the bipartisan committee met for the first time yesterday at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel. Azimio la Umoja One Kenya supported extra-parliamentary negotiations like the Serena talks that led to the 2008 National Accord, while Kenya Kwanza demanded parliamentary participation.
The parliamentary leadership tried to resolve the controversies before the committee meeting, but both sides were conciliatory. They even cautioned political figures against making potentially counterproductive statements.
The bipartisan team of Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Pokot South MP David Pkosing, as well as the formalization and nature of the talks, are the main differences.
Servers problem
The committee co-chaired by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and his Tharaka counterpart George Murugara remained circumspect about the issues of concern. The Nation has established that the auditing of the 2022 presidential election servers will also be referred back to the two principals.
The two leaders will also have to discuss Mr. Odinga’s demand for unga, fuel, electricity, and school fee subsidies.
The opposition has also called for multi-party democracy and the reinstatement of the four former IEBC commissioners. The Cherera Four, inclusive civil servant appointments, and the talks’ duration, which Mr. Odinga wants to end in 30 days but the government wants 90.
Kenya Kwanza insiders also want to use the negotiations to promote the two-thirds gender rule. The enshrining in the Constitution of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Senate Oversight and National Gender Affirmative Action funds. The establishment of the position of leader of the official opposition, and the improvement of parliamentary oversight of the Executive.
Yesterday, bipartisan team co-chairs and spokesmen Dr. Amollo and Mr. Murugara said they would handle all difficult issues.
“The team has preliminarily discussed a framework for engagement and agreed that each party will develop its framework for harmonization at our subsequent meeting,” they said in the statement.
Sensitive matters
They refused to answer journalists’ questions on other sensitive issues, claiming they were delicate.
The committee decided to promote and not undermine or jeopardize negotiations.. Likewise, we urge all political actors to refrain from statements that could be counterproductive,’ said the co-chairs.
Tuesday is expected to be the date of the next scheduled meeting.
Parliamentary leadership from both camps revealed that Mr. Keynan, a member of the Jubilee party and the Azimio coalition, would represent Kenya Kwanza in negotiations, as would Mr. Pkosing, whose party leader John Lonyangapuo is working with the government.
During their preliminary meeting, National Assembly Majority and Minority leaders Kimani Ichung’wa and Opiyo Wandayi and Senate counterparts Aaron Cheruiyot and Steward Madzayi could not agree on the duo’s membership.
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Mr. Wandayi stated, “We have decided to refer this matter to the leadership of our respective coalitions for resolution.”
Before removing a name, Mr. Ichung’wa advised consulting the leadership and party organs.
Ichung’wa stated, “This is an issue we cannot competently resolve, so we have referred it to our party leaders and respective party organs for resolutions.”
Madzayo added, “We agreed to allow all 14 members to hold preliminary meetings while we await resolution from our respective party leaders.”
Cheruiyot stated that the dialogue process began “with the utmost goodwill,” noting that mutual respect is required to achieve the best possible outcome for the country.
The Kericho senator said, “It is of the utmost importance that we steer this conversation away from the direction it was beginning to take, where hardline positions were beginning to emerge.”
Bipartisan Talks Stalled as Ball Lands in Ruto and Raila’s Court
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