Khalwale names two Azimio legislators hindering bi-partisan talks

By Robert Mutasi

Senate minority whip Dr Boni Khalwale has accused the Azimio coalition members of interrupting the ongoing bipartisan talks.

According to the Kakamega Senator, the Kenya Kwanza team have remained committed to the talks, unlike their Azimio counterparts.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, the senator singled out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Narok counterpart Olekina Ledama as the main obstacles in the talks.

The two, Khalwale claimed, have not been interested in paying attention to the Kenya Kwanza views.

"Who said we were supposed to agree? We went there because there is a disagreement between the two sides. They refuse to allow points of disagreement to be articulated," Dr Khalwale said.

The Senator also claimed that Azimio la Umoja has not been giving the Kenya Kwanza bipartisan team enough time to consult with their experts.

“How will it be unreconcilable when we want to go and think through clearly?” he asked.

Khalwale further accused the Azimio team of bringing in issues that had not earlier been listed as part of the discussions of the bi-partisan talks' team.

He now wants the Azimio coalition to change their team if they do not have confidence in them.

The Azimio team earlier this week announced that they had suspended the talks, accusing the Kenya Kwanza counterparts of being insincere.

"We will get nowhere even with the substantive issues as our colleagues are not negotiating in good faith. Our colleagues have refused to cede to any of our issues, which has led us to believe that there is no need of going on with the talks," Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo who is leading the Azimio team told journalists.

Both Azimio and Kwanza formed a 7-member team that was mandated to engage n a number of issues among them the IEBC selection panel, cost of living and opening of the IEBC servers.

The teams were formed after President William Ruto agreed to the bi-partisan talks, which saw the opposition call off their anti-government protests.