'Suspend anti-gov't demos for bi-partisan talks,' CS Murkomen urges Raila

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has urged opposition chief Raila Odinga to call off the planned anti-government in favour of bipartisan talks with Kenya Kwanza.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Transport CS noted that Raila has enough political sway to cancel the planned demos further stating that it is the former premier's responsibility to do so.

"It is still my prayer and considered opinion that Raila Odinga should use his influence to call off the planned mass action. He has the ability and responsibility to do so. There is no reason why we shouldn’t resume the Parliamentary talks," said Murkomen in a tweet.

He added that since Azimio's top brass has reiterated that the outfit is not seeking to be part of a coalition government, the opposition and the ruling administration should explore amicable ways to end their ongoing tiff.  

"Now that Azimio are clear that they don’t want to be part of the government in any form or shape whether it is nusu mkate or handshake, then I don’t see the reason why we can’t prosecute the issues raised using our democratic institutions," said the CS.

"President Ruto offered dialogue as a solution and those of us in government supported his proposal a hundred percent without exception. I urge our Azimio friends to be mindful of the nation and resume the talks."

In late May, Azimio suspended the bi-partisan talks indefinitely on grounds that Kenya Kwanza had failed to meet its demands. 

Azimio later asserted that it will not participate in the talks following the passage of the contentious Finance Bill 2023 among other reasons.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Kwanza coalition has maintained that the talks are still on track while accusing  Azimio of calling them off without providing a formal letter.