Africa-Press – Kenya. Azimio now claims their Kenya Kwanza counterparts have acceded to some of their demands that informed the formation of the bipartisan talks.
The claims, if true, serve to revive hopes of saving the talks from the brink of collapse after the government side allegedly maintained a hardline stance last week.
In a statement on Tuesday after a Parliamentary Group meeting at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Azimio said the Kenya Kwanza has briefed them on their willingness to push for temporary suspension of the IEBC reconstitution process.
“The PG received a briefing as follows, that Kenya Kwanza has offered that the joint co-chairs should write to the IEBC Selection Panel requesting them to halt the process for about 25-30 days,” Azimio said.
To preserve the IEBC presidential election servers, Azimio said the government side has also expressed willingness to also co-author a letter to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission reminding them of their legal obligation to preserve the servers and the data therein.
“Kenya Kwanza has asked that the co-chairpersons meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss and write the required letters so that the joint bipartisan talks can continue,” the Opposition outfit said.
The Raila Odinga-led outfit further claims that Kenya Kwanza has agreed to stop interfering with the independence of Opposition political parties and in particular, the leadership of former ruling party Jubilee.
“Kenya Kwanza has indicated a willingness to commit in writing to respect the ruling of Political Parties Tribunal confirming the Jubilee Party leadership,” Azimio said.
The team, however, said the government side was non-committal on the fourth demand and regarding the lowering of the cost of living.
This, they said, is going by their resolve to push for the passage of the Finance Bill 2023 which proposes a raft of measures aimed at burdening Kenyans with more taxes.
“They have no offers on lowering the cost of living because they are married to the Finance Bill,” Azimio said.
“It is however the view of the PG that those concessions are not good enough to allow us to return to the talks.”
The Opposition coalition reiterated its calls for the withdrawal of the Finance Bill as the ultimate remedy for the stalemate. They said Azimio MPs will sign a public pledge to oppose it.
It further demanded that all Jubilee MPs who have since defected must face by-elections in line with the Constitution above and beyond Kenya Kwanza committing not to interfere with the affairs of the party.
“Until all these are agreed on, the joint bipartisan talks remain suspended. Kenya Kwanza has up to midnight today (Tuesday) to comply,” Azimio affirmed.
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