• According to Ngunyi, Ruto seemingly knew exactly how Opposition chief Raila Odinga would react to Keynan's inclusion in the talks team.
• On April 18, the Raila Odinga-led coalition announced their objection to the talks and listed Keynan's inclusion in the Kenya Kwanza team among the reasons.
Image: FILE
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi now says President William Ruto is toying with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
Through a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, Ngunyi claimed Ruto deliberately named Eldas MP Adan Keynan in Kenya Kwanza's bipartisan committee to provoke Azimio.
According to Ngunyi, Ruto seemingly knew exactly how Opposition chief Raila Odinga would react to Keynan's inclusion in the talks team.
"He put Adan Keynan in his negotiating team on purpose, knowing that Babaman will protest. And when he removes him, maandamano will end. He does not lose anything. Brilliant craft," he said.
"Give it to William Ruto. He has become a grandmaster in politics. He is toying around with Azimio," he added.
On April 18, the Raila Odinga-led coalition announced their objection to the talks and listed Keynan's inclusion in the Kenya Kwanza team among the reasons.
Keynan was elected under Jubilee party, an Azimio affiliate, but later switched allegiance to Ruto's Kenya Kwanza.
Azimio said Keynan's inclusion in the talks team showed a lack of seriousness on the part of Kenya Kwanza considering that respect for multiparty democracy is one of the issues Azimio are demanding.
On Wednesday, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said they would only call off their Thursday demonstrations and resume talks only after Kenya Kwanza recuses Keynan from their team.
"We in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya announce, on a without prejudice basis, that we are prepared to go back to the bipartisan talks with our opposite side in Kenya Kwanza and are prepared to stand down the demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow Thursday provided that Kenya Kwanza recuses Hon Adan Keynan from the bipartisan committee," Azimio said in a statement signed by Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kenya Kwanza obliged.
"We appreciate the conciliatory tone taken by our Azimio counterparts to engage in talks and stand down the planned street demonstrations should Kenya Kwanza recuse Aldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan," the Kenya Kwanza team said in a press briefing at Parliament Buildings.
"As we have always stated, we are willing to bend backwards for the sake of the progress of the country, national unity and stability of the nation," Kericho Senator and Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot said.
He was flanked by his National Assembly counterpart Kimani Ichung'wah and bipartisan talks co-chair George Murugara.
He said Keynan agreed to “graciously" recuse himself in the greater interest of the country."
"We have nominated the Hon Dido Rasso, MP Saku, to replace the Hon Adan Keynan in the bipartisan committee," Cheruiyot said.
It therefore stands that Azimio's planned mass protests planned for Thursday are off.