Opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio camp has announced the resumption of countrywide protests on May 2 even as the bipartisan team meets on Tuesday for crunch talks.
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition National Executive Council chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya said on Monday that they have scheduled the mass demonstrations for next Tuesday.
He faulted President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza side for antagonising the environment for the talks, saying even if the dialogue is on the course, protests will run concurrently.
"Our protests will resume on Tuesday, May 2," Oparanya said.
Asked why they had settled on May 2, Oparanya said the decision was arrived at to give room to Kenyan workers to mark Labour Day on May 1.
"We are only allowing workers to celebrate Labour Day then immediately we resume our protests the day after," he said.
The fresh threat of another wave of countrywide protests could poison the environment for the bipartisan talks that will commence on April 25.
The Kenya Kwanza negotiating team is expected to meet those from Azimio's side for a make-or-break session amid fears that lack of white smoke could leave the country on the tenterhooks.
Despite President William Ruto's caution, Raila has said his camp will resume protests to pile pressure on the government to yield to their demands for extra-parliamentary talks.
The President has insisted that the talks should follow a parliamentary model to address Raila's concerns even as the 14-member bi-partisan team co-chaired by MPs Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and George Murugara (Tharaka) meets.
The panel is racing against time to agree on the model of the talks and draw a work plan and timeline for the talks.
Last week's meeting the team agreed to engage the appointing authorities, President Ruto and Raila on the committee’s composition.
While the Kenya Kwanza team want Pokot South MP David Pkosing' kicked out, their Azimio counterparts want Eldas MP Adan Keynan excluded from the panel.
