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Raila to make major declaration on Bipartisan talks

Insiders say it is a make-or-break meeting for the Bomas talks

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by JAMES MBAKA

News15 September 2023 - 09:35

In Summary


  • Raila is currently chairing a key decision-making organ, the summit of his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition ahead of his declaration.
  • The meeting at the Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's SKM Centre has brought together principals of parties that make up the Azimio coalition.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga on August 26, 2023.

Opposition Chief Raila Odinga is on Friday expected to make a major statement about the ongoing bipartisan talks with President William Ruto.

Insiders say it is a make-or-break meeting for the Bomas talks that have consumed over two weeks without significant progress.

Raila is currently chairing a key decision-making organ, the summit of his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition ahead of his declaration.

The meeting at the Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka's SKM Centre has brought together principals of parties that make up the Azimio coalition.

Among those present are Kalonzo, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni.

Others are Former governors Mwangi Wa Iria(Murang'a) and Nderitu Muriithi(Laikipia).

Raila is expected to address a presser at 2pm.

Raila on Tuesday chaired another all-important session attended by some of Azimio's leaders to evaluate the ongoing Bomas dialogue.

During the meeting, the Azimio side of the dialogue committee briefed their principals on the progress of the talks amid reports of concerns over 'orchestrated delays'.

It would be after the Friday meeting that Raila is expected to issue what those close to him termed an 'earthshaking statement' on the way forward.

On Tuesday, the Azimio dialogue team reportedly told the principals that there were inordinate delays in the talks that must be addressed to meet the deadline.

The 10-member committee was given 60 days to deliberate on the issues raised by both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio and then prepare a report that will be tabled in Parliament.

However, the committee has already consumed two weeks without getting into the substantive issues for dialogue, raising fears that they are being bogged down.

"Expect a major announcement on Thursday or Friday on the way forward because we believe that we are only marking time," an Azimio member who is in the delegation said on Tuesday.

During Tuesday's closed-door meeting, the team was also concerned with some Kenya Kwanza bigwigs who have been attacking the dialogue team and rubbishing some agenda.

They resolved that the Kenya Kwanza leadership and President William Ruto be asked to openly rebuke those undermining the talks.

The Azimio brigade took issue with remarks by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to the effect that the dialogue team should drop the audit of the 2022 polls from their agenda.

While speaking over the weekend, Gachagua said that the dialogue team should not entertain any discussions about the audit of the 2022 general elections.

"Discussing the 2022 presidential elections should be dropped. Let them proceed with the other agenda items. Let them talk about reconstituting IEBC and embedding the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary," Gachagua said.


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