Parliamentary bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja committees have hit a snag.
This is after continued bickering over membership of a joint bipartisan committee and the resumption of demonstrations called by Azimio coalition.
The 14 member committee was to hold a meeting today but it failed to take off after Azimio team failed to turn up, demanding the withdrawal of Eldas MP Adan Keynan.
In a press address at parliament buildings, Tharaka MP George Murugara challenged Azimio for holding protests amid bipartisan talks.
‘’We have an issue with Azimio, they want talks and demonstrations, there can’t be both, we either talk or they demonstrate, we call on them to resume the talks,” Murugara said.
Senate majority whip Bonny Khalwale who is also a member of the bipartisan committee urged Azimio team to abandon the demonstrations and resume talks.
‘’Whether they like it or not, they can go for demos today, they can go for demos tomorrow and every other day, but sanity will not be brought back by demos, but by talks, I appeal to Raila to let members of his committee to resume talks.” Khalwale said.
Murugara, who is the co-chair of the committee said his counterpart Otiende Amollo has refused to honor the invite although he remained hopeful that reason will prevail.
“He indicated that he has reservations over some issues and that they won’t honor the invitation today, but we haven’t given up, in spite of all this we are prepared to bend over and over again whatever the direction we are given so that we make this talks successful, there is no issue bigger than the country, we are ready to listen to them,” he said.
However in a quick rejoinder, the Azimio team insisted that Keynan must be withdrawn from the committee for talks to resume.
The committee co-chair Otiende Amollo said it was insincere for the Kenya kwanza coalition to have included Keynan in the team.
“Our position has been clear, it was clear last week its clear even now, remove Hon Keynan from the committee and we will resume the talks even now,” Otiende said.
Otiende also dismissed the demand that the demonstrations must be called off for talks to resume.
‘’They are bringing up the issue of demonstrations, that has never been an agenda of the committee we have no powers to call for or call off demonstrations, that can be dealt with at the level if the constitution and the principals, so it is in bad faith to insist that we call off the demonstrations,’’ he said.
