Azimio coalition has affirmed that street protests are here to stay even as they said they remain committed to holding fresh talks with their Kenya Kwanza counterparts.
In a statement on Sunday, the opposition outfit disowned a joint statement issued Saturday by Kenya Kwanza on agreed issues for discussion saying the contents were Kenya Kwanza's "wish list".
In the statement read by Peter Munya, Azimio said they will continue engaging with the people even as they continue to pursue dialogue.
"Until we agree that each party has the freedom and right to bring its issues to the table and as we continue to pursue discussion, we shall continue with our engagements with the people," Munya said.
"That right is in our Constitution, it has no basis for any discussion. We will continue exercising our constitutional rights of association, of expression (and) of assembly, we are not going to negotiate that with anyone."
They did not however indicate when next they will hold the demos.
The Azimio statement appeared to contradict one issued by President William Ruto in Kwale County moments earlier.
The Head of State said he had spoken to Raila and other opposition leaders recently and they reached a consensus that they would be no more anti-government protests.
He revealed that he told the Opposition they could talk about anything but he would “not negotiate about the safety of Kenyans.”
“We can compete in anything but cannot have a leader either past, present or future that will plan chaos and bloodshed. That will not happen in Kenya,” Ruto said.
“Going forward, there will be no violence. We can discuss other things because we are a free country and a democracy.”
The President spoke during a church service in Ukunda, Kwale county.
Speaking separately at the Alliance High School, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua told Azimio leaders that their security detail would be reinstated after three months only after they are sure there are no more demos.
He said the security personnel seconded to Azimio leaders and their allies were recalled to bridge a shortfall of officers needed to quell the street protests called the previous week.
"We did not have sufficient officers to deal with demos for three days," he said in reference to the previous week's three-day protests that ran from Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21.
"Your officers were taken to deal with demonstrators. Your officers will be returned to you after three months when we are sure there are no demos," he added.
