Kenya Kwanza bi-partisan wing insists talks still on, says Azimio yet to withdraw formally

The faction led by joint committee co-chair George Muragara that presented itself for the talks at Bomas of Kenya accused Azimio of suspending the talks without providing a formal letter.

"They have not written to us to say they are not coming back, they have not invoked any of the remaining clauses to tell us that they are not coming back... we are going to wait for them for a reasonable amount of time," Murugara told the media. 

According to Murugara, there is a framework agreement outlining how either of the two teams can withdraw from the talks.

"That is what binds us, and not what it said in barazas... they invoked a clause in the agreement to suspend the talks, but there are other clauses which provides how parties can exit talks," he added. 

According to the Kenya Kwanza team, the IEBC selection team should continue with the recruitment process because the commission has a lot at stake, including the boundary review.

Meanwhile, during a public rally at Nairobi's Kamukunji Grounds, the Azimio coalition, led by Opposition leader Raila Odinga, stated that they would not participate in the talks following the passage of the contentious Finance Bill 2023.

"Having imposed on us the punitive taxation measures contained in the Finance Act 2023, in complete disregard of our views, we declare an end to the talks to which we had sent our delegation in the hope that Kenya Kwanza will show interest in resolving the pro-people issues including the cost of living. It is time for action,” reads part of the resolutions read out by Former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.