Azimio, Kenya Kwanza finally agree to dialogue starting Wednesday

Talks between the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza political coalitions have been confirmed after the two teams settled on a date, time and venue for the talks that are expected to unlock the stalemate that has seen the opposition spearhead mass protests across the country.

The team leaders confirmed the Bomas of Kenya as the venue for the talks with its initial meeting set for Wednesday at 11:30 am.

“It is now settled that we will meet at Bomas, Wednesday at 11;30. Today and tomorrow we are doing internal consultations. I am sure the other side are doing the same so that when we meet, we will be able to make as much progress as possible..,” said Kalonzo Musyoka, the team leader for the Azimio dialogue team.

Kimani Ichung’wa, who is the team leader for the Kenya Kwanza dialogue team said: “Tutapatana hapo Bomas tukae chini tuongee mambo ya mwananchi wa kawaida na tumesema ajenda zile tano rais ulituambia twende tuongee. Tutakuwa nazo kwa meza. Wakileta zingine tutawaskiza kwa heshima, lakini mambo ya cost of living umewaambia na tunawaambia hiyo ndiyo kazi wananchi wa kenya walikuajiri kufanya...”

The spotlight now shifts to the national dialogue team as it kicks off the talks. Among issues that will set the mood for the talks this Wednesday include the period the talks will take, Azimio having already pronounced itself on the matter as end of August, failure to which they will resume street protests.

There are also questions about the order in which the matters raised by both teams will be addressed, and which ones will be prioritized over the other.

The Kenya Kwanza coalition has listed the re-constitution of IEBC, implementation of two-thirds gender rule in parliament, the inclusion of the CDF in the Constitution, the creation of the office of the leader of the opposition as well as embedment of the office of the prime cabinet secretary in law as priority issues.

The Azimio coalition on the other hand maintained its first agenda in the talks as reduction in the cost of living followed by audit of the 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC as well as inclusion in national affairs and respect for political parties.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will lead the Azimio dialogue team and joined by his DAP-Kenya counterpart Eugine Wamalwa, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.

The Kenya Kwanza team will be led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa followed by his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar and Bungoma Woman Rep Catherine Wambilianga.