•Azimio also claims that the motion violated the Standing Orders of both houses
•The Wiper leader also noted that the delay in naming the Kenya Kwanza team was another sign of a lack of seriousness.
The Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition has given its reasons on why they are rejecting President William Ruto's call for bipartisan talks. https://rb.gy/aoass
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA
The Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition has given its reasons on why they are rejecting President William Ruto's call for bipartisan talks.
On Tuesday, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka insisted that the Kenya Kwanza cannot dictate to them what they cannot bring to the table.
He explained from the last few weeks, any reasonable observer of happenings will agree with Azimio that Kenya Kwanza has no intention whatsoever to hold any dialogue at all, let alone one that is honest, transparent, and bipartisan.
"They have exhibited absolute bad faith from the beginning," he said.
Kalonzo went ahead and gave reasons why Azimio won't take part in the talks.
He noted that President Ruto while calling for the talks failed to capture the entire framework for talks as had been agreed upon with the emissaries he sent.
"This includes leaving out key issues on the cost of living and electoral justice which are of utmost importance to us and the people of Kenya," Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader also noted that the delay in naming the Kenya Kwanza team was another sign of a lack of seriousness.
Kalonzo notes that the delay was made worse by the inclusion of members of the Azimio Coalition in his team when the whole country knows that respect for multiparty democracy is one of the issues they have put on the table.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan was named among six others to represent the government in negotiations with the Opposition.
The team comprises Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who is the leader of the delegation, George Murugara (Tharaka MP), Esther Okenyuri (Nominated Senator), and Mwangi Mutuse (MP Kibwezi West).
Others are Lydia Haika (Taita Taveta Woman Rep) and Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei.
Going further, Azimio also noted that the upto date, the Kenya Kwanza has failed to name the leadership of its team as a way of stonewalling.
Kalonzo poked holes in the motion drafted by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah which aimed at setting up a joint select committee in Parliament.
On Tuesday, In a notice of motion, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah unpacked before the House Business Committee their proposed trajectory the bi-partisan talks should take.
The notice unveiled Kenya Kwanza conditions ahead of talks with Raila
However, according to Azimio, the motion is in absolute bad faith for some reasons.
"The motion is disguised as a product of bipartisanship when in fact the leadership of Azimio in Parliament were neither aware nor consulted in its drafting," Kalonzo noted.
The former vice president highlighted that the motion is disguised as a product of bipartisanship when in fact the leadership of Azimio in Parliament was neither aware nor consulted in its drafting
Azimio also claim that the motion violated the Standing Orders of both houses as it purported to name members of the Minority Party to the so-called select committee without any reference to the Minority leadership
In addition, the coalition claims it has insisted on an extra-parliamentary process in view of the structures of debate in Parliament.
As a result, Azimio said it will not participate in any such parliamentary process.
"We continue to insist that the dialogue must be about all the four issues namely the cost of unga, fuel and electricity, forensic audit of the servers, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, and respect for multiparty democracy," Kalonzo said.