Hope for talks as Ruto, Raila teams set to meet today

The Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja teams in the proposed bipartisan talks are set to meet this morning to thrash out thorny issues threatening to scuttle the initiative in a move that could throw the country unto upheaval.

In the clearest indication that the much-touted bipartisan talks can be salvaged, the two sides have reached out to each other to hold preliminary talks this morning with a view to addressing key concerns, especially by the Azimio la Umoja side, that threaten to scuttle the process.

While Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah has convened a meeting bringing together selected representatives of the two coalitions at Parliament Buildings, Azimio la Umoja team leader Otiende Amollo has also called for another one at Serena Hotel this morning and has invited the members of the Kenya Kwanza delegation in the Joint Committee.

On Tuesday, Ichung’wah wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge requesting for a venue to hold what he termed as “talks before the talks.”

 “This is to request you to facilitate a meeting venue for talks on the bipartisan process for a team of 6 -8 members on Thursday, at 11 am,” reads the letter.

In the letter, Ichung’wah also invited Leader of Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo and MPs George Murugara from the Kenya Kwanza side and Amollo, the Azimio la Umoja team leader.

But yesterday, a member of the Azimio la Umoja in the committee, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua confirmed that he had seen the letter from Ichung’wáh but had also been invited for another meeting by Amollo.

Wambua said Amollo has already communicated to Murugara, the Kenya Kwanza team leader, informing him of the Serena meeting.

“I am aware of the two meetings, I think we need to harmonise the two teams and take the process forward,” Wambua told the People Daily.

Wambua said convening the two meetings was a good gesture as it should show some commitment by the sides to jumpstart the talks.

Coalition leadership

The move comes barely a day hours after the Azimio la Umoja coalition leadership threatened to pull out of the talks unless the membership and scope was widened.

Azimio wants the negotiations to revolve around recruitment of the national polls team, opening and audit of the IEBC servers, cost of living and reinstatement of election commissioners who were kicked out after the last General Election.

 And on Tuesday afternoon, Wandayi told Parliament that his coalition was ready to engage in the talks as long as they are all inclusive and are not convened in Parliament.

Azimio leaders have argued that the parliamentary process was restrictive and demanded inclusion of experts.

“As long as Kenya Kwanza demonstrates good will come with open hands, we are going to engage but any slight underhand movement we will go back to the people,” said Wandayi.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula asked the two sides to look for an amicable solution to the underlying issues that have threatened the talks.

“I encourage the two leaders (Ichung’wa and Wandayi) not to play to the public gallery and do what is expected of you,” said Wetang’ula.

“I want us to have talks before the talks and agree on the nitty gritty of the proposed motion and the areas to be amended before we come up with a document to be tabled before the Joint Committee,” Ichung’wah said.

 “We in the Kenya Kwanza are committed to the process. What we want as leaders is peace and tranquillity to prevail in the country and we will do whatever is expected of us for the whole process to be a success.”

Ichung’wa had filed the notice of motion seeking to formally jump-start the bipartisan talks on appointment of new electoral commissioners and other demands made by Azimio leader Raila Odinga and his allies.

Draft motion

In the motion, the leader of majority has consented to one of Azimio’s demands that the proposed team incorporates non-legislators as well as experts.

“We already wrote to the Speaker and communicated our names and draft motion for submission to the House for approval. We are ready for the bipartisan engagement and our members are ready,” Ichang’wah said.

In the motion, Ichung’wah says that each side is free to invite, engage with and consider submissions from stakeholders and relevant constitutional and statutory bodies with a law reform mandate, including the Attorney General, constitutional commissions and independent offices established under Chapter 15 of the Constitution. “The joint select committee and each coalition may engage experts, professionals and such other technical resource persons as they may deem necessary,” reads the motion.

Reads the motion; “The two Houses of Parliament establish a joint select committee consisting of 14 members, seven (7) each from the two coalitions in Parliament.” It stresses the need to recognise Parliament as the constitutionally mandated organ to consider such matters as the review of the existing law.

According to Ichung’wah, the mandate of the joint select committee will be to, among others, facilitate bipartisan engagement in Parliament on the reconstitution of the IEBC Selection Panel on the recruitment of the chairperson and members of the IEBC.