Bipartisan talks: Governors to mediate Azimio, Kenya Kwanza
The Council of Governors (CoG) has volunteered to mediate Kenya Kwanza, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya teams in the stalled bipartisan talks.
In a statement, CoG Chairperson and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said that the committee will be led by the executive leadership of the council.
The committee will involve Waiguru, her Vice Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Whip Stephen Sang (Nandi), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Simba Arati (Kisii), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and Dr. Ochilo Ayacko (Migori).
“The purpose of the committee is to engage the leaders from the two political divides to address the ongoing demonstrations and amicable solutions to ensure there is stability in the country,” said Governor Waiguru.
Azimio suspends its involvement in bipartisan talks
Azimio suspended its participation in the bipartisan talks with the government side of Kenya Kwanza las week following the involvement of Eldas MP Adan Keynan on the government side.
"The Azimio team has suspended its participation in the bipartisan talks until such time as Hon. Keynan who remains a member of Azimio shall not be included as part of the Kenya Kwanza delegation," Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said.
Earlier, Kenya Kwanza announced that they had agreed to drop Keynan to unlock the impasse on the composition of the 14-member committee that saw Azimio pull out of the talks on Tuesday.
"To demonstrate our commitment to the one process of a peaceful bipartisan engagement, we are ready to recuse Hon. Keynan from the process if the issue they consider to be in conflict with the Hon. Keynan will be part of TOR of the formal process," Kenya Kwanza team leader George Murugara Murugara said.
Muragara, who doubles up as chair of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee in the National Assembly, urged the Azimio team to suspend planned mass action and return to the table for further consultations.
''I have this afternoon as a co-chair written to my colleague co-chair, hon. Otiende Amollo inviting him and the leadership of the house, both in minority and majority, for a discussion around this proposal to break the impasse at the earliest opportunity available to them,'' the Tharaka MP added.
President William Ruto last month proposed bipartisan talks, through parliament, to address the opposition's concerns on the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other grievances that saw Azimio call for weekly street protests.
