Azimio La Umoja One Kenya has enlisted embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Usawa Party Leader Mwangi Wa Iria in a “backup members” to supports its expanded dialogue team.
Azimio’s lead negotiator Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) also listed Roots Party Leader George Wajackoyah and lawyer Adams Oloo as alternate members of the team during an inaugural session with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition on Wednesday.
Musyoka said the additional members will participate in subsequent sessions on the basis of mutual agreement by the two principal parties.
“I wish to appeal to this gathering not to gather in vain. I appeal to all of us to commit not to let our people down,” he remarked during an introductory session at the Bomas of Kenya.
“That’s we shall put our people interest first. We therefore appeal we shall negotiate in good faith and genuinely seek a just outcome,” the former Vice President added.
The Azimio co-principal insisted that the coalition is not seeking to negotiate for a power sharing deal as projected by the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
“We shall negotiate for any power sharing or personal interest ahead of the interest of Kenyans. We ask for your humble prayers as we seek to find a lasting solution,” he said.
The Raila Odinga-led alliance promised to prioritize the rising cost of living as well as electoral reforms in talks with the ruling coalition.
Azimio returned to the table after bolting out of an initial round of talks citing an externally-mediated agreement.
A draft agenda on the talks did not include the cost of living nor a raft of tax hikes introduced in July, angering Kenyans suffering from spiraling prices for basic goods such as fuel and food.
Critics accuse Ruto of negating promises made during the August 2022 election campaign, when he declared himself the champion of Kenyans at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
Kimani Ichung’wah, National Assembly Majority Leader, maintainedon Monday Kenya Kwanza would not entertain talks on the economy despite Azimio’s demands.
“We will listen to them on anything but not the cost of living. The president is already working on it,” Ichung’wah, leader of the government delegation in the talks, said at a rally.
Nonetheless, the opposition said Tuesday it was ready for dialogue because “we believe that this country deserves peace not paralysis”.
“We want all Kenyans to understand that engaging in honest dialogue does not amount to surrender or cowardice,” it said in a statement.
Odinga called off demonstrations in April and May after Ruto agreed to dialogue through a similar process, but the talks broke down and the opposition protesters returned to the streets.
The confrontation that has seen rioters dismantle public infrastructure mirror similar demonstrations in 2017 when Odinga, after having lost the presidential election, declared himself “President” and ordered his supporters to defy the government.
Odinga discontinued his public disobedience campaign which included a call to citizens to reject payment of taxes after a “handshake” with then President Uhuru Kenyatta who subsequently backed his 2022 presidential campaign.
The Azimio leader has however incessantly denied reports he could be building momentum for yet another “deal” with President William Ruto which could leave his supporters and Kenyans supporting the clamor against new taxation measures disgruntled.
“If there is no agreement after 30 days, Kenyans will take a different course of action,” Odinga said on Sunday. BY CAPITAL NEWS