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National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah now says the Kenya Kwanza national dialogue team won’t entertain discussions around the outcome of the 2022 presidential poll in talks with the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party.

Ichung’wah, who leads the Kenya Kwanza 5-member dialogue team, insists that the matter was settled by the Supreme Court in the ruling that upheld President William Ruto’s victory on September 5, 2022.

Addressing a roadside crowd in Kiambu Town on Thursday, the Kikuyu MP maintained that Ruto is the duly elected president of Kenya.

“The election, which concluded on August 9th, yielded a duly elected President, marking the end of that particular chapter. This can not be the subject of dialogue,” he stated.

At the same time, he ruled out talks on a coalition government or any form of political truce akin to a handshake between Azimio leader Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018.

“I would want to thank the President for trusting me with a role on the negotiating table. We already told them (Azimio) that we won’t entertain talks on a handshake or nusu mkate,” Ichung’wah stated.

Our focus remains on advancing our nation through constructive dialogue and collaboration. In so doing, adherence to our laws and the Constitution is paramount, and our discussions will be conducted with the utmost respect for the principles that underpin our democratic society pic.twitter.com/RCBMhUMn98

— Kimani Ichung’wah (@KIMANIICHUNGWAH) August 17, 2023

The legislator said the Kenya Kwanza team was only ready to hold talks aimed at ending violence and political unrest associated with Kenyan elections.

President Ruto, who spoke at the same rally, also ruled out any talks on coalition government or handshake in the ongoing dialogue with the opposition.

“Let them forget about the handshake,” Ruto stated.

The Azimio coalition insists that Raila was rigged out in the last presidential election and is seeking an audit of the results of the poll through the national dialogue.

Other issues on Azimio’s priority list include the cost of living, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and related matters, and measures to prevent interference with political parties among others.

The Azimio team is headed by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.