• Murugara said he has invited Otiende for talks on Tuesday to resolve the stalemate
• Otiende, however, said he is unavailable for the meeting
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
President William Ruto's team in the bipartisan committee has come out to explain why they backtracked on their earlier concessions, a move that prompted Azimio to pull out from the talks indefinitely.
Kenya Kwanza had on Tuesday acceded to, among others, co-author letters to IEBC Selection Panel to suspend the hiring process of the election chiefs for 30 days as the issue was one of the agenda items.
The team led by Tharaka MP George Murugara also accepted to do another joint letter to the IEBC to request for the preservation of presidential election servers for three years.
But on Wednesday, Murugara made a U-turn, declining to append his signature, throwing the talks into confusion.
Speaking for the first time yesterday, Murugara said Azimio fundamentally altered contents of joint letters he was supposed to co-sign.
“Hon Amollo’s letters sent to me last night had a few but very fundamental changes, which had altered the request to directives to the two independent bodies. This is why I declined to sign the letters,” Murugara said.
As a committee guided by the law, Murugara said he could not be party to any move that is likely to interfere with the independence of constitutional institutions.
“We do recognise that IEBC, just like Parliament, Judiciary and other independent offices and commissions, are not subject to directions and orders from any person or entity,” the Tharaka MP said.
“It, therefore, came to us as a surprise that our colleagues wanted to enjoin us to commit a fundamental violation of the very constitution we seek to defend.”
He also ruled out consideration of the Azimio PG resolutions, especially on the Finance Bill, by the committee, arguing that the matter is not part of the agenda items agreed by both teams.
In a bid to salvage the talks, Murugara invited his co-chair to a meeting on Tuesday next week to agree on the contents of the letters.
“I have just now invited the co-chair, Hon Otiende Amollo, to a meeting on Tuesday, 6th June 2023, at 9am to discuss the draft letters further, with a view to agreeing on the suitable wording and co-signing them,” he said.
But Otiende told the Star he will not attend the Tuesday meeting, insisting the talks remain adjourned indefinitely.
“Kenya Kwanza are playing games; probating and reprobating. Offering concessions when matters heat up, then playing recalcitrant when things cool, citing the existence of laws and independence of institutions. No negotiations can be held this way,” Otiende said.
“The talks are suspended indefinitely, and I am unavailable for the suggested meeting.”
Murugara, however, assured they will continue indulging their counterparts to return to the negotiation table for the sake of the country.
“Kenya Kwanza is wholly committed to the bipartisan talks and will continue to engage the Azimio side so that the talks do not fail,” Murugara said.
“Our team has been mandated by the Kenya Kwanza PG and the leaders to negotiate freely but within the confines of the law. This we commit to do unreservedly, in good faith and for the betterment of our country, Kenya.”