National dialogue: Kenya Kwanza names four-member technical team

Lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu at the Supreme Court in September 2022. [Samson Wire, Standard]

The Kenya Kwanza coalition has appointed a four-member technical team to assist the dialogue committee in the bipartisan talks.

In a statement on Friday, August 11, the coalition has picked Lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu, Advocate Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi, and Duncan Ojwang’.

Thiankolu, Ojwang’ and Musumba were among the legal team that represented President William Ruto in the 2022 presidential petition while Biketi is Musalia Mudavadi’s legal advisor.

The coalition delegation team leader Kimani Ichung’wa, stated that the new team will help in the inaugural dialogue process that is scheduled for August 14.

 “The team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation,” Ichung’wa stated.

One of the duties of the technical team is to decide on the agenda of the 10-member dialogue committee between the government and the opposition.

The appointment comes following a Wednesday committee members meeting that resolved that a technical committee should be formed to set the agenda for the talks.

The Azimio la Umoja coalition had already selected its technical team including; Jeremiah Kioni, Adans Oloo, Zein Abubakar, and Isabel Githinji.

The selected technical team will work hand in hand with the 10-member delegation team during the dialogue.

A newly formed technical team is supposed to give a proper framework before the talks begin.

The Azimio delegation team will be headed by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka while Kenya Kwanza will be represented by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa.