“You can’t exit bipartisan talks,” Ruto team tells Raila
Azimio coalition cannot exit bipartisan talks despite Raila declaration at Kamukunji according Ruto team, Kenya Kwanza
Azimio coalition cannot exit bipartisan talks despite Raila declaration at Kamukunji according Ruto team, Kenya Kwanza.
The bipartisan Kenya Kwanza team, led by Co-Chair George Murugara, emphasized on Wednesday, June 28, that Azimio cannot leave the negotiations notwithstanding the former prime minister Raila Odinga’s statement at Kamukunji.
Speaking during an interview with Spice FM, Murugara explained that Azimio had signed a framework agreement detailing the exit process which was not followed when the coalition announced that it had pulled out of the talks on Tuesday, June 27.
Murugara pointed out that the statement made by Azimio principal Eugene Wamalwa at a political event in Kamukunji was not enforceable since it broke the terms of the previously agreed deal.
“The withdrawal from the talks was made in a public rally. We will only believe if Azimio follows the framework agreement and gives relevant notices as stipulated,” he explained.
Murugara noted that Azimio was free to quit the process should they follow the laid down procedure.
He dismissed Azimio’s accusation that President William Ruto’s team was not honest with the talks.
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The lawmaker explained that parliamentarians could not engage in the bipartisan talks because they were preoccupied with debating Finance Act 2023 and the 2023/2024 financial year budget.
The legislator reiterated an earlier warning that should Azimio not return to the negotiating table, the process of selecting a new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) team would kick off in earnest.
“We had requested the selection panel to momentarily pause the process but we have laws in place and the panel will do its job,” he warned Azimio.
The Ruto team further accused Azimio of not being honest with their demands alluding that they were intentionally sabotaging the process.
In particular, he noted that Azimio added contents of the Finance Act 2023 as part of their demands despite the two teams having already ratified issues to be discussed.
Wamalwa, while announcing the exit of Azimio from the talks, stated, “Having imposed on us the punitive taxation measures contain in the Finance Act 2023 in complete disregard of our views we declare an end to the bi-partisan talks.”
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