Kenya Kwanza’s Approach to Talks Not Clean – Etale
Philip Etale, director of communication for the ODM, has stated that the Kenya Kwanza coalition’s approach to the recent bipartisan discussions is not sincere.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Etale accused the ruling coalition of trivializing the negotiations by implying that Azimio is bringing up irrelevant issues.
“Kenya Kwanza approaches negotiations with unclean hands. They have already begun grandstanding before the discussions have even begun. “They condemned maandamano, brutalized it, and are now attempting to demean the negotiations by making it appear as if the conflict was over the non-issues listed,” he said.
According to Etale, Azimio’s top priority in the negotiations is to reduce the cost of living.
He stated that the discussions should center on issues affecting Kenyans rather than individual agendas.
“There are some issues that KK is attempting to force down Kenyans’ throats that make no sense. We should prioritize issues that affect the general populace over self-serving agendas.”
Both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza presented five representatives for the proposed negotiations.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will lead Azimio’s delegation, which will also include Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi.
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Azimio cited issues such as the cost of living, the audit of the 2022 elections, the bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, the inclusion of political parties in national affairs, and adherence to the Constitution.
National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah, Aaron Cheruiyot (Senate Majority Leader), Embu Governor Cecile Mbarire, Hassan Omar (EALA MP), and Bungoma Woman representative Catherine Wambilinga will lead the Kenya Kwanza delegation.
Kenya Kwanza emphasized in a statement released on Wednesday that the team will discuss five issues with their Azimio counterparts.
They include reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, institutionalization of the constituency development fund, establishment and institutionalization of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and embedding of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The team also insisted that a greeting with the opposition will not be discussed.
Kenya Kwanza will also announce their five-member team for the ten-member committee.
“Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim the right to determine for the others what to raise and what not to raise,” Azimio said in a Monday statement.
Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo will facilitate the discussions.
Kenya Kwanza’s Approach to Talks Not Clean – Etale