Governors form 10-member team to intervene in bipartisan talks

COG chair Anne Waiguru says members will deliberate on a resolution on the Azimio protests.

In Summary

• The Council Executive Committee include Waiguru, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.

• The planned Parliamentary bipartisan talks have stalled after the government and opposition failed to reach an agreement on some issues.

Council of Governors chairperson Ann Waiguru at a past event.
Council of Governors chairperson Ann Waiguru at a past event.
Image: FILE

The Council of Governors has formed a 10-member committee to intervene and resolve the standoff between government's and opposition bipartisan talks teams.

In a statement on Tuesday, COG chair Anne Waiguru said the members will deliberate on a resolution to the Azimio demonstrations.

The Council Executive Committee include Waiguru, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.

Others are Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Simba Arati (Kisii), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and Ochillo Ayacko (Migori). 

Waiguru described the COG as a "a non-partisan institution that speaks in one voice."

"We are all working towards service delivery focused, productive and stable counties for all Kenyans," she said.

The planned Parliamentary bipartisan talks have stalled after the government and opposition failed to reach an agreement on some issues.

Azimio leadership demanded the re-composition of the Kenya Kwanza team, which the ruling regime considered and said it was ready to withdraw Eldas MP Aden Keynan.

In what could be interpreted as a way of wooing the Opposition into calling off planned protests, the Kenya Kwanza faction said Keynan would be dropped if his presence during talks would cause conflict.

Azimio argued that Keynan should not be included in the Kenya Kwanza team since he is an Azimio member by dint of having been elected on a Jubilee ticket.

But Keynan's removal came with a precondition; that the Azimio team drops Pokot South MP David Pkosing from their talks committee.

Azimio has, however, declined to adhere to this precondition insisting that Pkosing, whose Kenya Union Party (KUP) has since joined Kenya Kwanza, is officially an Azimio member since KUP is yet to formally leave Azimio. 

The opposition outfit has vowed to continued holding mass protests on Thursday following the apparent collapse of the bipartisan talks.

"We are taking a break to recharge, re-strategise and re-energise.. we shall resume our protests on Thursday," Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua said.

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