- In the statement signed only by Ichung'wah, he listed five issues which he said they had agreed with Azimio would form the agenda of the fresh talks.
- But Raila said these were never agreed upon during a meeting with Kenya Kwanza which was facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Image: FILE
The proposed fresh talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza appear to have hit muddied waters after the opposition disowned a joint statement released on Saturday.
In a statement on Sunday, Azimio leader Raila Odinga accused the government side of deceit saying the statement was one-sided and signed only by Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah.
"We disown the statement by Ichung'wah. Azimio had nothing to do with it. Its contents were those of Kenya Kwanza, their wish list," Raila said.
In the statement signed only by Ichung'wah, he listed five issues which he said they had agreed with Azimio would form the agenda of the fresh talks.
These are the reconstitution of IEBC, implementation of two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of constituency development fund, establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
But Raila said these were never agreed upon during a meeting with Kenya Kwanza which was facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
"The initial meeting was to prepare the ground for honest discussions of issues we have been raising and those that Kenya Kwanza feels like raising. The meeting was therefore a talk about envisaged talks," he said.
Raila said their issues have not changed and their priority for discussions with the government sides remains to be the escalating cost of living which has only worsened with the lifting of conservatory orders on the Finance Act, 2023.
"It's our position that this issue does not require any discussion but policy action by Kenya Kwanza. But since they won't do it, the cost of living has to be part of the talks. Negotiations must therefore include repeal of the oppressive, cruel and insensitive Finance Act, 2023."
The other substantive issues Azimio maintains must form the agenda of the fresh talks are inclusivity, audit of the 2022 general elections, reconstitution of IEBC and the respect of the autonomy of opposition coalitions and their constituent parties.
"In light of what transpired these past days, we will bring to the table the issue of accountability and responsibility for the brutality and abuse of human rights of protesters," Raila said.
He said by issuing a one-sided statement purporting it to be a joint statement, Kenya Kwanza was trying to deny Obasanjo's presence and leadership at the talks.
Raila said that would be a very unfortunate development and pointed out that they denied the presence of Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan who he said was in the country to mediate the talks.
"It points to Kenya Kwanza now institutionalizing the culture of deceit and taking it to the global stage," he said.
Raila said they remain committed to the fresh talks but no party to the negotiations should determine for the other party what to raise and what not to raise.
He said they will respect Kenya Kwanza's right to bring whatever issues they have on the table and likewise expect them not to have any objection to the issues they will raise.
"Until we agree that each party has the freedom and right to bring its issues to the table and as we continue to pursue discussions, we shall continue with our engagements with the people," he said.