Bipartisan talks take a break, to resume Monday

Technical Team is to compile submissions received from the economic experts.

In Summary
  • Kalonzo said the team will be expected to complete the exercise by Monday next week when they will resume sittings.
  • The bipartisan talk which began on August 9, 2023, aimed at resolving the impasse between the government and the opposition.
Bipartisan talks team arriving at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday
Bipartisan talks team arriving at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday
Image: KEITHE MUSEKE

The National Dialogue Committee(NADCO) has taken a break until Monday.

The committee has now tasked the Technical Team to compile submissions received from the economic experts.

Kalonzo said the team will be expected to complete the exercise by Monday next week when they will resume sittings.

"We will resume the Bipartisan talks on Monday for the final submissions from invited experts as we get back on the final stretch of these negotiations," he said on his X platform.

On Tuesday, specialists from the Institute of Economic Affairs as well as the Parliamentary Budget Office walked the committee through the ways and means of tackling the cost of living.

The Azimio coalition has maintained that the high cost of living remains key to its participation in bi-partisan talks.

Raila's secretary Oduor Ong’wen in a statement on Monday said the cost of living remains non-negotiable.

The party expressed concerns that the cost of living continues to increase despite it being a key agenda of the talk.

"We are deeply concerned that while the talks are ongoing, the current regime continues to implement measures that exacerbate the cost of living, including fuel price hikes and the introduction of new and punitive taxes and levies," he stated.

The party listed five key issues, with taming the high cost of living topping the list.

Other issues include ensuring electoral justice, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), upholding fidelity to multiparty democracy, and respecting the rights of political parties.

The bipartisan talk which began on August 9, 2023, aimed at resolving the impasse between the government and the opposition.

It came after a spate of protests that led to the loss of lives to innocent Kenyans.

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