Azimio Rejects Ruto-Raila Talks
Azimio Rejects Ruto-Raila Talks
On Saturday, July 29, the Azimio la Umoja Coalition separated itself from a unified statement issued by Kenya Kwanza calling for peace negotiations following the anti-government protests.
The coalition clarified in a statement that the remark was delivered first by majority leader Kimani Ichungw’ah, a member of theKenya Kwanza regime.
“It should be noted that in our statement, which was released before KK’s, Azimio has yet to table its substantive issues,” a portion of the statement said.
The coalition also emphasized that the primary problems that drove them to the streets were not mentioned in the Leader of the Majority’s statement.
Azimio reaffirmed that their four-point program included the cost of living, electoral audit reforms, non-interference in coalitions and constituent parties, and accountability and investigation into police violence that has taken the lives of dozens of innocent people.
“We owe it to Kenyans to engage honestly, transparently, and in good faith to find long-term solutions to the country’s crisis,” read a portion of the statement.
The alliance stressed that it cannot participate in debates centered on the establishment of positions that are not contemplated by the Constitution.
The issues under discussion in the joint statement issued by Ichung’wah on Saturday, July 29, were the reconstruction of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the implementation of the 2/3 gender rule, the entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and the embedment of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The two parties did, however, agree to forma 10member committee to continue the negotiations. It’ll be made up of four members from outside Parliament, two from each party, the National Assembly’s Majority and Minority Leaders, and four extra Members of Parliament, two from each side. The two political alliances agreed in the declarations to have former Nigerian PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo serve as the facilitator of the peace talks and the state of the nation.
Other Azimio members questioned why the expense of living was not at the top of the list of significant issues mentioned. If the situation is not solved, Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has threatened to return to the streets.“Where in the Terms of Reference is the cost of living mentioned?We need to talk in the streets,” he said.
