The Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja Coalition dialogue teams have agreed on the way forward on the issues to be discussed during the bipartisan talks.
The National Dialogue Team issued a statement on Wednesday, August 30 detailing the issues for negotiations during the bipartisan talks.
Co-chaired by Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa, the team agreed on five areas of discussion.
Moreover, these broad areas include Outstanding Constitutional Matters, Electoral Justice and Related Matters, Entrenching Funds into the Constitution, Establishment and Entrenchment of State Officers and fidelity to political parties/coalitions and the law on multi-party democracy.
Under the outstanding constitutional matters, the bipartisan talks will lay focus on article 43 of the Constitution, the Cost of Living and related issues.
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Others are implementation of the ‘two-thirds gender rule’, governance issues, including promoting national unity and inclusivity in public appointments, and adequate checks and balances.
EBC as part of bipartisan talks
Likewise, the bipartisan talks will focus on electoral justice and related matters including the restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the boundaries delimitation, and audit of the 2022 presidential election.
Furthermore, the talks will also include matters on entrenching funds into the constitution. Under this the team highlights the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, and the Senate Oversight Fund.
Nonetheless, the national dialogue team will negotiate on the establishment and entrenchment of state offices including the office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, and the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Also Read: Kenya Kwanza’s Efforts to Ensure Bipartisan Talks Resume
In the Wednesday, August 30 statement, the Raila-Ruto talks will encompass fidelity to political Parties/Coalitions and the law on multiparty democracy, focusing on the prevention of interference with political parties or coalitions.
Kenya Kwanza Team Leader Kimani Ichung’wah announced that the team has formalized the framework agreement and agenda that will form the bipartisan talks.
“Today marks a significant stride towards ushering in a new era of peaceful and constructive political negotiations. Determined to rewrite our history, we have formalized the framework agreement and agenda that will be the basis of the National Dialogue Committee’s talks,” Ichung’wah said.
On his end, the leader of Azimio team Kalonzo Musyoka affirmed that openness and integrity will form the foundation of the bipartisan talks.
“Honesty, openness and integrity is the foundation of true dialogue and that is what we are fostering here at the Bomas of Kenya with fellow Leaders of the National Dialogue Committee Co-Chaired with Kimani Ichung’wah,” Kalonzo stated.
