Why Kenya Kwanza declined Azimio demands in bipartisan talk
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Kenya Kwanza and Azimio differ on priorities leading to suspension of bipartisan talks initiated by Ruto and Raila Odinga
Kenya Kwanza and Azimio differ on priorities leading to suspension of bipartisan talks initiated by Ruto and Raila Odinga.
On May 23, the Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Team outlined the reasons why a parliamentary discussion with Azimio La Umoja coalition had to be suspended.
Nominated senator, Esther Okenyuri, in a statement released on the same day, disclosed that the two parties differed on priorities.
The senator claimed that Azimio made unreasonable demands that were at odds with Kenya Kwanza’s viewpoint.
“The Kenya Kwanza side considered the issue of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel to be the most urgent.
“On the other hand, the Azimio side preferred to prioritise the preservation of the IEBC servers,” Okenyuri detailed why the parliamentary dialogue collapsed for the umpteenth time.
According to their reasoning, the election server issue could not have preceded the IEBC selection panel was reconstituted, Kenya Kwanza said.
However, the Kenya Kwanza side remained silent in response to Azimio’s justification for why the dialogue fizzled out.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna announced the end of the bipartisan negotiations by explaining that the two sides could not come to terms on key points.
Sifuna, a member of Azimio’s bipartisan team, pointed out that Kenya Kwanza was not honest in restructuring the IEBC selection panel, contradicting Okenyuri’s assertion.
“We have had to suspend the bipartisan dialogue after we could not persuade our friends from Kenya Kwanza to concede to some common-sense interim measures.
“This included; lowering of the cost of unga, preservation of the election servers, suspension of IEBC reconstitution and for them to leave Jubilee alone,” the first-term legislator noted on Tuesday, May 23
Sifuna noted that the suspension was temporary and should Kenya Kwanza agree on raised issues, the talks would resume in seven days.
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On matters, Jubilee, a faction led by East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, Kanini Kega, is wrestling for the control of the party from President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta’s grasp.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) approved the Nominated MP Sabina Chege as Party leader and Kega as secretary general in place of Uhuru and Jeremiah Kioni, respectively. However, a court stayed the order offering Uhuru’s wing a reprieve.
Azimio Leader Raila Odinga threatened to recall protests if Kenya Kwanza did not exude fidelity on the bipartisan talks and accused Ruto of using the ORPP to fight Uhuru.
“We said that the Ruto government should not interfere with running political parties. Political parties must be allowed to conduct their affairs independently without interference from the state.
“This is a warning. Azimio La Umoja will not accept interference by the government in the running of affairs of parties in the coalition. We therefore urge the registrar to move with speed and register the new officials of the Jubilee Party failure to which there would be consequences,” Raila warned while addressing Siaya residents at a charity event.
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