Close ranks on bipartisan talks

Both the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance and minority Azimio la Umoja coalition should close ranks and make concessions to ensure successful conclusion to the bi-partisan talks.

It is encouraging the core team has finalised its report and agreed on a raft of recommendations. Only two issues remain as sticking points, and with good will from across the political divide, it is possible to find agreement on them as well.

The responsibility of uniting the country is enormous and no single party can claim it has the wherewithal to achieve this without the support of the others. This is why the talks are crucial because they ought to light the path of national reconciliation that will in turn pave the way for addressing national challenges, such as the cost of living, flooding and insecurity.

Politicians from both divides must do more to be seen to be pushing public interest issues during the talks. The same way they agreed on how to share positions in government, they should also agree on issues that affect the ordinary citizens.

There is also need to start building consensus early in the event that the country will be required to hold a referendum ahead of the 2027 elections. This, as history has shown, can be a trying time because it creates an electioneering mood that is not ideal for economic growth. As such, rather than reduce it to a personality contest, a referendum, should it become necessary, should be used to find the best options for Kenya and Kenyans, not for politicians to fight it out in the public arena. Leaders from both sides need to be guided by high national and patriotic ideals in the next phase of the negotiations and those already threatening to go back to the streets should be brought on board and their voices heard to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Kenyans are hurting at many levels and it is only fare that the political class spares them further disillusionment. The best way to do this, and inject optimism among Kenyans, is by demonstrating a spirit of bipartisanship in the next stage of negotiations and avoid chest-thumping and threats of unrest.

Since only two issues remain unresolved, the leadership of both divides should be encouraged to play the role of reconcilers and marshal their troops to push the agenda that have been agreed on and find solutions to sticking points.

More Articles

---