Raila meets Azimio members after bipartisan talks deadline lapse
3 min read
Raila to meet Azimio members to decide on their next course of action after bipartisan talks deadline lapse
Raila to meet Azimio members to decide on their next course of action after bipartisan talks deadline lapse.
After the Kenya Kwanza government missed the deadline they had given it to respond to their requests over the high cost of living and electoral changes, top Azimio la Umoja leaders will meet today to decide on their next course of action.
The meeting takes place as there are rumors that the top brass of Azimio is getting impatient with the initiative and the Kenya Kwanza government’s commitment to the bipartisan negotiations’ slow progress.
The meeting comes even as President William Ruto read the Riot Act to MPs planning to oppose the controversial Finance Bill, 2023, warning them of undisclosed consequences should they do so.
ODM Deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya said the Azimio brigade was dismayed with the slow pace their counterparts in government were handling the talks.
“We have seen a deliberate attempt by our counterparts to derail the talks. They are too slow and they keep on pushing us back and forth. We are now fatigued by their actions,’’ Oparanya revealed.
He added that the Azimio team led by Raila Odinga will today convene to decide the next course of action in their push for better governance, in particular, the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill.
He said the meeting in Nairobi will consider several options, including and not limited to taking back to the streets to push through their demands.
“Last Friday, they called a meeting, but they were moving at a snail’s speed to act on our recommendations or resolve some of the contentious issues. This is why we are now considering our next move,’’ said Oparanya.
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He added that the dilly-dallying on the part of the government, was eating into the tight timelines they had set for the conclusion of the bipartisan talks. The joint committee overseeing the talks has a 60-day window to complete its task and forward to President William Ruto and Raila.
Azimio had initially given a 30-day period but Kenya Kwanza demanded 90 days, leading to the 60-day compromise timeline.
Azimio has threatened to institute unspecified measures if the government does not withdraw the controversial Finance Bill, 2023 in toto to address high cost of living.
Oparanya said they were likely to consider more radical decisions in today’s meeting.
“We have been called for the urgent meeting in Nairobi and I am travelling from Kakamega to go and join the team on Monday,” said Oparanya.
Speaking separately, Democratic Action Party (DAP) party leader Eugene Wamalwa signaled the return of anti-government protests if the controversial bill is not reviewed.
The former Defence Cabinet Secretary charged that the proposals in the bill will overburden Kenyans and urged the MPs not to pass it in its current form.
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