Azimio calls off protest to give bipartisan talks a chance

 

Azimio has called off its demos called for Thursday saying their Kenya Kwanza counterparts have agreed to recuse Adan Keynan from their bipartisan talks team.

"We in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya announce, on a without prejudice basis, that we are prepared to go back to the bipartisan talks with our opposite side in Kenya Kwanza and are prepared to stand down the demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow Thursday provided that Kenya Kwanza recuses Hon Adan Keynan from the bipartisan committee," Azimio said in a statement signed by Kalonzo Musyoka.

The Wiper leader, however, said all the other conditions that Azimio has raised remain unchanged.

The statement followed a confirmation from the Kenya Kwanza camp that they have replaced Keynan with Saku MP Dido Rasso.

In a press statement at Parliament Buildings, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah, his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruyoit and bipartisan talks co-chair George Murugara said Keynan agreed to recuse himself from the talks.

"We appreciate the conciliatory tone taken by our Azimio counterparts to engage in talks and stand down the planned street demonstrations should Kenya Kwanza recuse Aldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan," Cheruyoit said. 

"As we have always stated, we are willing to bend backwards for the sake of the progress of the country, national unity and stability of the nation," the Kericho Senator added.

He said they consulted with Keynan and he “graciously agreed in the greater interest of the country to recuse himself from the bipartisan committee.”

"We have nominated the Hon Dido Rasso, MP Saku, to replace the Hon Adan Keynan in the bipartisan committee," he said.

Keynan said he did not want to be used as a scapegoat for the collapse of the talks.

“I do not want to be used as an excuse. I pray that this will be the last condition by Azimio. Please remember that we have a country that we have to jealously protect,” he added.

One of the grounds for rejection was that Keynan was a member of Jubilee Party, which was allied to Azimio before he shifted allegiance.

The other members of Kenya Kwanza team are Boni Khalwale (Kakamega Senator), George Murugara (Tharaka MP), Essy Okenyuri (Nominated Senator), Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West MP), Lydia Haika (Woman Rep, Taita Taveta) and Hillary Sigei (Bomet Senator).

The legislators have been tasked to engage their counterparts from the Azimio led by Senators

• Ledama ole Kina (Narok)
• Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi)
• Enock Wambua (Makueni)