Kenya Kwanza and Azimio fail to Agree on Inclusion of Two Members in Bipartisan Talks

The bipartisan talks between Azimio la Umoja and the Kenya Kwanza side are at a stalemate after the two sides failed to agree on the inclusion of Eldas MP Adan Keynan and his Pokot South counterpart David P'Kosing as members of the dialogue team.

The leaders representing the two sides in the national assembly and the senate said they could not agree on the duo's membership during their preliminary meeting to address underlying issues before the start of the talks.

National Assembly Majority and Minority leaders Kimani Ichung'wa and Opiyo Wandayi respectively, as well as their Senate counterparts Aaron Cheruiyot and Steward Madzayo have now retreated to go consult with their party leaders on the same.

"In our engagement this morning we raised the issue of the inclusion of Eldas MP Adan Keynan as a member of Kenya Kwanza negotiating team and our objection was premised on the fact that he is a member of Jubilee party which is a constituent party of Azimio." 

"Our counterparts also raised an issue about our inclusion of Pokot South MP David P'Kosing as a member of our team on grounds that his party leader John Lonyangapuo has entered into some arrangement with Kenya Kwanza. We have objected to their objection and that amounts to a stalemate,” Opiyo Wandayi said.

He went on: "We have since chosen to refer this matter to the leadership of our respective coalitions in a view to having it resolved."

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa said the composition was a decision  made after deliberations by both coalitions including Parliamentary Group meetings, hence the removal of any name from the list must be referred to the leadership and respective party organs. 

"We appreciate that the composition of both teams was arrived at following the engagement of party leadership of both coalitions."

"This is an issue we cannot ably resolve, that's why we've referred it to our party leaders and respective party organs for resolutions," Ichung'wa said.

On the bipartisan talks chairs. The two sides agreed on Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and his Tharaka counterpart George Murugara as co-chairs.

The team chaired by Otiende Amollo and Murugara started the preliminary talks at the Kempinski Hotel.

A report will come later in the day when they address journalist

More to follow…..