Azimio disowns Ich**g’wah-signed KK statement on dialogue, lists cost of living as main agenda
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party has disowned an alleged joint statement released by Kenya Kwanza undersigned by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah.
In a statement on Sunday, July 30, 2023, Azimio termed the contents of the Ichung'wah-signed statement as a "Kenya Kwanza wish list".
"Kenya Kwanza released a one-sided statement signed by Hon. Kimani Ichungwa that they claimed to incorporate our views. We disown the statement by Hon. Ichungwa. Azimio had nothing to do with it. Its contents were those of Kenya Kwanza, their wish list," Azimio co-principal and former cabinet secretary Peter Munya said.
Munya said that the cost of living, which was not listed among the items of discussion, was Azimio's priority in the bipartisan talks.
"Our priority for discussion is the escalating cost of living which has only got worse with the lifting of the conservatory order on 2023 Finance Act last week. We want to see actions by the regime that will lead to the immediate lowering of cost of living. It is our position that this issue does not require any discussion but policy/action by Kenya Kwanza. But since they won’t do it, lowering the cost of living has to be part of the talks," Munya said.
Azimio demands
Munya said that negotiations with the government must include the repeal of the Finance Act 2023, inclusivity, an audit of the 2022 elections and the bipartisan reconstitution of the electoral commission.
"In light of what has transpired these past days, we will bring to the table the issue of accountability and responsibility for the brutality and abuse of human rights of protestors," Munya said, adding that the discussions must entail respect for the autonomy and independence of political parties.
"It is our position that no party to these negotiations can and should determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise. We will respect Kenya Kwanza’s right to bring all its issues to the table. Likewise, we expect Kenya Kwanza to have no objection to our priorities."
Munya confirmed that President William Ruto and Raila Odinga had met under the mediation of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
