The Azimio Coalition has now changed tune on the bi-partisan talks between the government and the opposition.
The Raila Odinga led coalition is now demanding the expansion of bi-partisan talks to an extra-parliamentary process.
Already, Azimio has named three non-legislators to join its seven-member team of negotiators.
The coalition’s seven-member team led by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo issued the demand on Thursday.
Earlier on Azimio leader Raila Odinga said the coalition would resist “a Ruto-controlled Parliament.”
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Amollo says that the process cannot be strictly parliamentary citing public participation concerns.
“Our Constitution requires that any engagement involving the public there must be public participation. It can end up in Parliament, but it can’t be strictly Parliament. To say that the process is strictly parliamentary is defeatist,” he said.
Azimio has appointed its spokesperson Makau Mutua and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni as Assisting Counsel. They also named Odinga’s attorney Paul Mwangi as joint secretary to the negotiating team.
President Ruto’s side has insisted that the bi-partisan dialogue must be strictly parliamentary.
Further, Azimio is also demanding that Kenya Kwanza drops Eldas MP Adan Kenyan (Jubilee Party) insisting that he belongs to a constituent party of the coalition.
“Hon Keynan is a member of Azimio. The issue of party discipline is one of the four cardinal issues on the table and his inclusion is in bad faith and intended to delay the process. We therefore request that he be replaced”.
“We note the delay in naming the 7-member team and that up to now they have not named their chair leaving us at a loss as to whom to engage,” Amollo stated.
