- The two teams had on Wednesday agreed to set up technical teams to help them.
- Azimio leader Raila Odinga wants the talks concluded within 30 days.
Image: FILE
The Bipartisan talks technical committee is on Friday set to begin the process of harmonising the agenda for dialogue ahead of Monday's meeting of the 10-member panel.
The technical team, whose names have not been published, was established on Wednesday when the dialogue team held its inaugural meeting at the Bomas of Kenya.
While the names have not been made public, the Star understands that both teams have already seconded experts to the Bomas of Kenya to begin the process of crafting the talks roadmap.
The biggest responsibility of the technical team will be to frame the issues for discussion and also draw a work plan with the talks expected to start in earnest on Monday.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the leader of the Kenya Kwanza side, had on Wednesday termed the first meeting as successful and set the tone for the technical team.
“We will begin once we frame the agenda items. We do not have the luxury of failing,” he said during a brief address at Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the Azimio side team leader also concurred with Ichung'wah. He said there was need to frame the issues before the 10-member panel embarks on its work.
''We are yet to agree on the agenda items. When we meet again we will agree on how to frame the agenda,” Musyoka had said.
The team appeared to have agreed on the format for the talks after they confirmed that the speakers of parliament will second some critical staff for record keeping.
“Speakers of both Houses will provide Hansard reporters because documents will be generated and they will be presented on the floors of the Senate and National Assembly,” Musyoka had said.
This means that the dialogue process would be partly parliamentary and outside of parliament with its final recommendations expected to be tabled in then bicameral house for approval.
President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga had on July 28 agreed to initiate a platform for dialogue to address issues raised by both camps.
Both sides have agreed that they will not use the talks to share power but listed parallel issues.
Azimio's issues include the cost of living, audit of the 2022 presidential election results, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and related matters and measures to prevent interference with political parties.
Others are outstanding constitutional matters - governance issues, adequate checks and balances, and the question of boundaries delimitation.
The Kenya Kwanza issues include reconstitution of the IEBC, implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund, establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The Azimio delegation is led by Kalonzo, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and DAP party leader Eugene Wamalwa.
Others include Nyamira Senator Okon’go Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi with besieged Jubilee secretray general Jeremiah Kioni leading the technical team.
From the Kenya Kwanza, Kimani Ichung'wah will lead the team that also has Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar and Bungoma Woman Rep Catherine Wambilianga.