Dialogues Set: Ichung’wah & Kalonzo Agree on Meeting Date
Kenya’s Bipartisan Talks Team Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, announced on Monday that he has contacted Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Azimio party, and they have mutually agreed on a specific date to recommence negotiations for a ceasefire.
While addressing the audience in Mukurweini, situated in Nyeri County, as part of President William Ruto’s five-day official visit to the Mt. Kenya area, the leader with the most members in the National Assembly disclosed that both sides have agreed to convene at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, August 9th, at 11 am.
“We shall not meet in a hotel, I told them we do not have money for tea. We shall sit at Bomas and discuss the issues affecting Kenyans, the five issues listed,” he revealed.
He additionally mentioned that the governing coalition would enter the discussions with a receptive attitude and would handle the concerns brought up by the opposing party, except for those that have already been declined by the government faction.
Kenya Kwanza has declined the option of engaging in discussions regarding the expense of livelihood, examining the outcomes of the 2022 presidential election, and engaging in power-sharing.
Regarding the expenses associated with daily life, the Kikuyu Member of Parliament mentioned that the Kenya Kwanza government is actively taking measures to tackle this matter.
“The people of Kenya ‘hired’ you Mr. President to lower the cost of living and you have done so by slashing the cost of fertilizer and the price of cooking gas. You have done more through the Finance Act that they are contesting in court,” he added.
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The firm supporter of Ruto, who is also closely aligned with him, cautioned Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio Party, about using demands and threats to achieve his objectives during the negotiations.
“We demand you respect the president elected by the people of Kenya. You can not threaten and blackmail us to coerce us to agree to what you want or else you will go back to the streets,” Ichung’wah demanded.
The Member of Parliament encouraged the opposing party to bring forward topics focused on the progress of the nation and the betterment of Kenyan citizens. They advised avoiding subjects that primarily serve the interests of a select few individuals.
Ichung’wah expressed confidence in his ability to participate effectively in the discussions. He argued that Ruto is actively engaged in serving the Kenyan populace and should not be involved in political schemes related to the discussions.
Significantly, this occurred a day after Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s criticism of Ichung’wah. Murkomen urged Ichung’wah to cease using open letters on social media to communicate with Kalonzo and instead encouraged him to directly reach out through other means.
On the flip side, this occurred a week following Kenya Kwanza’s inability to attend a previously arranged meeting at Serena Hotel on Monday, August 7. They cited other commitments as the reason for not being able to honor the meeting.
The Kenya Kwanza camp responded to the suggestion by proposing an alternative date for the discussions. Additionally, they declined the venue put forth by Azimio, which was the Serena Hotel, and instead emphasized that the talks should take place at government establishments.
Ichung’wah suggested that the discussions take place either at County Hall or at the Kenya School of Government situated in Kabete.
Dialogues Set: Ichung’wah & Kalonzo Agree on Meeting Date
