Azimio unveils 7-member team ahead of talks with Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, April 6, 2023
The Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition has unveiled a team of seven legislators to represent the opposition in talks with the Kenya Kwanza government.
The team unveiled during the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition Parliamentary Group meeting chaired by Raila Odinga on Thursday, April 6, features members from both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The seven are Senators Ledama Ole Kina (Narok), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Enoch wambua (Kitui) and MPs Amina Mnyanzi (Malindi), Millie odhiambo (Suba North), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo.
The MPs are set to engage in dialogue with their counterparts from the Kenya Kwanza government on several issues raised by the opposition in recent demonstrations.
“We shall send our members to that select committee. The point of reference shall be lowering the cost of unga and electricity, audit of IEBC servers used before, during and after the 2022 elections, reviewing the dismissal of the IEBC four, and for the government to consider restructuring IEBC by devolving its structures,” Raila said.
Raila, however, warned that should the talks hit the rocks the coalition will resume demonstrations that were suspended last Sunday.
“Should there be no meaningful engagements we shall mobilise Kenyans again under Article 37. The monopoly of power can only be addressed by Kenyans through a constitutional review to end imperial presidency,” he added.
The latest development comes days after Raila accepted Ruto’s olive branch and calls for dialogue to address, among other issues, the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Raila, who accuses the IEBC of denying him victory in the last presidential election, had expressed his reservations over the recently passed the IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2022 that altered the first schedule of the parent Act, to change the composition of the selection panel that oversees the filling of vacancies at the commission.
He also opposed the appointment of a seven-member panel to recruit the new electoral officials.
He accused Ruto of deliberate attempts to influence the recruitment of the new team that will replace commissioners who retired, resigned or were removed from office over gross misconduct and abuse of office.