Kalonzo to lead Azimio delegation in talks with Kenya Kwanza
Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party has chosen Kalonzo Musyoka to lead its delegation in the talks with Kenya Kwanza.
In a statement, Azimio named other members of the delegation including National Assembly Minority Leader James Opiyo Wandayi, Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omongeni, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi.
Azimio said that each side, Kenya Kwanza and the opposition, should remain free to raise their own issues of interest to be discussed in the talks.
"Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise. Azimio will respect Kenya Kwanza's right to bring all its issues to the table. We expect Kenya Kwanza to do the same with our issues," the statement read in part.
Azimio has already tabled five issues to be discussed including the high cost of living, audit of 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of the electoral commission, inclusivity in national affairs and respect for political parties.
"Azimio is keen on a time-bound program of talks that should take one month beginning August 1, 2023," the statement added.
Kenya Kwanza statement
Initially, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah released what he termed as a joint statement detailing five issues the two sides had agreed to focus on during talks set to be facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The issues are reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Ichung'wah further noted that the Finance Act 2023, whose enactment largely contributed to the opposition calling for mass action to protest against the high cost of living, would not form part of the discussions.
