Azimio agrees to form new team for talks with Kenya Kwanza

 

Azimio has agreed to nominate five members to sit in a new dialogue panel that will consist of five other members from Kenya Kwanza.

The fresh talks will be facilitated by former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo days after President Ruto allegedly snubbed his Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu.

In a statement on Saturday, Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi said they had reached the decision after consultations with the Kenya Kwanza side under Obasanjo's facilitation "desirous of a democratic and peaceful resolution of issues that beset our nation".

"We, the leadership of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, having consulted with the leadership of Kenya Kwanza (are) determined to resolve our differences amicably for the benefit of all our people," the statement read in part. 

Under the new agreement, the two sides will form a committee of ten composed of five members each from Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza.

Wandayi said the committee will include four members from outside Parliament, two from each side, leaders of Majority and Minority from the National Assembly and four additional Members of Parliament -two from each side.

"Further details on this initiative shall be communicated in due course," Wandayi said.

The new development now puts on hold Azimio's plans to issue new directives regarding their anti-government street protests.

The coalition said on Friday during an interdenominational requiem mass for protests victims that it would give the way forward on the demos this Sunday. 

"I also want to announce on our behalf that on Sunday, July 30,  we shall communicate to the nation our next course of action about anti-tax protests," Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said.

He spoke at the SKM command centre where the opposition outfit held the requiem mass.

Shortly before his address, the Court of Appeal lifted the orders suspending the implementation of the Finance Act, 2023. 

Noting this, Kalonzo said Kenyans will have to bear the burden of heavy taxes and regretted that lives were lost in the fight against the same. 

Leaders present included former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Azimio leader Raila Odinga, Eugene Wamalwa and a host of MPs.   BY THE STAR