Azimio la Umoja spokesperson Prof Makau Mutua on Saturday, September 23, called for the resignation of Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni from his position as the Head of the Azimio Technical Team at the Bomas talks.
In a statement, Makau asserted that Kioni should resign immediately adding that his sentiments criticizing the talks contradict the position of Azimio.
According to Mutua, Kioni termed the bi-partisan talks at Bomas useless which makes him unfit to lead Azimio’s technical team.
“He’s repeatedly said the talks are a “waste of time.” He must resign unless he’s a hypocrite,” Makau noted.
“How can one lead a team in talks he doesn’t believe in?” he posed.
Prof Mutua’s demands came on the back of reports indicating that leaders at the Bomas-based bipartisan talks were involved in an altercation last week.
Malala Criticizes Kioni
Earlier in the day, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party Secretary General Cleophas Malala also made similar demands criticizing Kioni over what he called disrespect towards the ruling party.
Addressing a function in Narok County, Malala noted that Kioni described the talks as useless and stated that the process was bound to failure.
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Further, Malala urged his Jubilee counterpart to present alternative ideas as opposed to confronting fellow leaders in the committee amid reports of a near fist fight with UDA Vice Chairperson Hassan Omar.
Additionally, Malala affirmed that the government would remain committed to the talks despite earlier statements from party members alluding to a possible end of the Bomas process.
“If you have ideas, challenge us with them intellectually,” Malala noted.
“We want to warn you, you must respect the vice chairperson of UDA.”
Kioni Introduces Kamwene Outfit
Earlier in the week, Jeremiah Kioni and Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua introduced an alliance named the Kamwene Leadership to spark speculations on the duo’s future in Azimio.
Also Read: Kenya Kwanza’s Efforts to Ensure Bipartisan Talks Resume
However, Kioni assured that Kamwene was in Azimio to stay and that the Kamwene Leadership was meant to provide an alternative to dissatisfied members of UDA.
Further, Kioni noted that Kamwene would help to agitate the grievances of Mount Kenya people including the state of agriculture and high cost of living.
“This Kamwene leadership is a group of people who are not in Kenya Kwanza, neither are they in Azimio, but are pushing for the interests of the Mountain,” Kioni stated.
