Parliament urged to legalise Raila-Ruto talks committee

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto. [File, Standard]

The joint bipartisan talks committee has tasked the leadership of the National Assembly and the Senate to process a motion to legally establish the dialogue team.

The committee tasked their technical teams to frame the agenda items for consideration and review the bi-partisan talks framework agreement.

This, it notes, should incorporate negotiating teams' resolutions. Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah who are the co-chairpersons of the bipartisan talks committee led their members in deliberations at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi yesterday, where they set the grounds for engagement.

Kalonzo said Azimio and Kenya Kwanza technical teams will synchronise their agenda before they settle down for dialogue to thrash out contentious issues that have caused divisions.

The committee's next meeting has been scheduled for Monday next week.

"We as the Azimio la Umoja team are coming to the table for dialogue with our Kenya Kwanza team in good faith, we have to work expeditiously to ensure that all the issues we have raised are addressed so as to ensure that peace and tranquillity are maintained in the country," said Kalonzo.

Ichung'wah revealed that the two teams will be engaging within the confines of the constitution and that they have reached out to the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi who have seconded a secretariat to help them deliver on their mandate.

The National Assembly Majority Leader promised that the Kenya Kwanza team will be putting the best interests of Kenyans on the table as they dialogue with Azimio and hope that they will come up with recommendations that will help unlock the political stalemate.

"We are starting this process with the aim of ensuring that we bridge the gap that is causing divisions between the government and opposition side since Kenyans are tired of these disagreements and are only interested in service delivery from the various government institutions," said Ichungwah.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecil Mbarire, Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga and East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker Hassan Omar who are representing the Kenya Kwanza Alliance were present during the talks.

The Azimio team was represented by National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, DAP-K Leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.

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The Kenya Kwanza technical team comprising Dr Muthomi Thionkulu, Dr Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Dr Duncan Ojwang were also present, while their Azimio counterparts represented by Jeremiah Kioni, Prof Adams Oloo, Lynne Ngugi and Zein Abubakar.

Azimio and Kenya Kwanza have divergent views on the matters to be discussed with the opposition keen on having the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 polls and inclusivity in national affairs and non-interference in the running of political parties given priority.

Kenya Kwanza wants the two-thirds gender rule, the entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund in the Constitution, the establishment of the office of the Leader of Opposition and the embedment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary to be discussed during the talks.

The meeting comes barely a day after Azimio leader Raila Odinga met with Delaware Senator Chris Coons. "It was a great pleasure as usual to meet and exchange notes with my friend Senator Chris Coons, an afternoon well spent," Raila posted on his official Twitter handle.