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Kenya Kwanza picks Muthomi Thiankolu as bi-partisan talks co-secretary

He will work alongside lawyer Paul Mwangi fronted last week by Azimio.

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by The Star

News05 May 2023 - 18:41
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In Summary


• The two sides said they have made headway on the formalization of the framework on the issues to be deliberated on.

• Murugara said they also discussed issues of divergence which the two sides will seek to reach a common ground once talks resume.

Bipartisan co-chairperson George Murugara speaks to the media after closed-door meeting of bipartisan members at Mercure Hotel Nairobi on May 5, 2023.

Kenya Kwanza has nominated a joint secretary to their bipartisan talks team ahead of the resumption of talks next week.

In a joint statement with their Azimio counterparts, Kenya Kwanza co-chair George Murugara said they have nominated High Court advocate Muthomi Thiankolu to serve alongside Azimio's lawyer Paul Kariuki who was fronted last month.

Meanwhile, Murugara and his Azimio counterpart Otiende Amollo said they have made headway on the formalization of the framework on the issues to be deliberated on.

"We have postponed the substance of that discussion to next week. We have explored some of the various issues around it. The first issue is whether it could be a parliamentary process," Amollo said.

They spoke after a closed-door meeting at the Mercure Hotel, in Nairobi.

He said they also deliberated on whether the talks should be by Executive gazettement under Article 131 of the Constitution or whether talks should be outside Parliament of the Executive.

"We are going to explore all those in detail next week," he added.

Murugara said they also discussed issues of divergence which the two sides will seek to reach a common ground once talks resume.

In a statement on Thursday, Azimio leader Raila Odinga said they have tabled fresh demands including that talks be held outside Parliament for inclusivity.

"We still believe the talks cannot be driven entirely and exclusively through a parliamentary process. There must be an avenue to be inclusive and allow for the participation of players from outside Parliament in the talks," Raila said.

He said such a structure will create an avenue for the inclusion of other outstanding constitutional issues to be canvased in the talks.

"We have instructed our delegates to raise this," Raila said.

The opposition outfit agreed to call off their Thursday mass demonstrations after Kenya Kwanza gave in to pressure and recused Aldas MP Adan Keynan from the bipartisan committee.

National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah and his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot said Keynan had agreed to recuse himself for the interest of the country. 

"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," Cheruyoit said. 

"We have nominated the Hon Dido Rasso, MP Saku, to replace the Hon Adan Keynan in the bipartisan committee," he said.

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