The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance has reiterated that the bipartisan talks with Kenya Kwanza have been suspended, adding that the government has until May 30, at midnight, to comply with the demands raised during the discussions by the Raila Odinga-led faction.
Azimio stated in a statement issued on Tuesday that the issues they want addressed by President William Ruto’s administration include, among other things, a complete overhaul of the proposed Finance Bill 2023.
“We reject this backward march. We reject the Finance Bill in total. We reject excess taxation to finance wasteful expenditure,” Ugunja MP and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said following an Azimio Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting on Tuesday.
Azimio also wants Kenya Kwanza to stop interfering in the affairs of Azimio affiliate parties, particularly former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party.
“With regard to interference in Jubilee, Kenya Kwanza has indicated willingness to commit in writing to respect the ruling of the Political Parties Tribunal confirming the Jubilee Party leadership,” said Wandayi.
“It is our resolution that other than merely committing not to interfere in the affairs of other parties, Kenya Kwanza must agree that all Jubilee MPs who have defected have to face by-elections, in line with the constitution.”
Azimio, according to Wandayi, wants Kenya Kwanza to recognise the resolutions reached by Jubilee at the Party’s Special National Delegates Convention last week, including the leadership change.
“We said those changes must be taken as final and must be respected and enforced by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties,” said Wandayi.
Wandayi also suggested that Kenya Kwanza join Azimio in co-authoring a letter to the IEBC reminding it of its legal obligation to keep the Presidential Election Servers and the data contained within them.
“Kenya Kwanza has asked that the co-chairpersons meet tomorrow to discuss and write the required letters so that the Joint Bipartisan Talks can continue,” said Wandayi.
“Until all these are agreed on, the joint by-partisan talks remain suspended. Kenya Kwanza has up to midnight today to comply.”
