Azimio members question Ruto’s commitment to bipartisan talks
By Wangu KanuriAzimio la Umoja – One Kenya Alliance politicians have questioned President William Ruto’s motive after appointing a Jubilee MP as a Kenya Kwanza bipartisan committee member.
Adan Keynan, the Eldas MP, is a member of the Jubilee party which is part of the Azimio coalition but defected to work with the government.
He among other Jubilee candidates threatened to quit the Azimio camp over the Parliamentary Service Commission positions.
However, on Tuesday, President Ruto unveiled him among Boni Khalwale (Senator, Kakamega), George Murugara (MP, Tharaka), Essy Okenyuri (Nominated Senator), Mwengi Mutuse (MP, Kibwezi West ), Lydia Haika (Women Rep Taita Taveta), and Hillary Sigei (Senator, Bomet) as the Kenya Kwanza politicians who would head the party’s team in the bi-partisan talks.
His appointment has left a bitter taste in the mouths of some Azimio politicians who have said that the Head of State has acted in bad faith.
Edwin Sifuna, the Nairobi senator and also a committee member in the Azimio team, tweeted, “In gauging Ruto’s seriousness with the so-called bipartisan dialogue he himself called for; 3 things: 1. The insistence on a purely Parliamentary process is a red flag 2. The inclusion of Hon. Keynan in his team is absolute bad faith and a slap in the face. 3. The refusal to do anything to lower the price of Unga is a deal breaker. Ni hayo tu.”
In gauging ruto’s seriousness with the so called bipartisan diaologue HE HIMSELF CALLED FOR; 3 things:
1. The insistence on a purely Parliamentary process is a RED FLAG
2. The inclusion of Hon. Keynan in his team is absolute BAD FAITH and a slap in the face.
3. The refusal to do…— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) April 12, 2023
Robert Alai, the Kileleshwa MCA also expressed his discontent with the matter saying, “Kenya Kwanza insults the talks when they put an Azimio MP as part of their bipartisan team.”
Narok senator Ledama Ole Kina while weighing in on the Kenya Kwanza bipartisan committee members said, “The lack of seriousness of the by-partisan deliberation on the KK part is the straw that broke the camel’s back! We are back to the people…”
The lack of seriousness of the by-partisan deliberation on the KK part is the straw that broke the camel's back! We are back to the people …
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) April 11, 2023
While the politicians lament about Keynan, some of them were still discontented by the committee members Raila Odinga unveiled as part of the Azimio representatives in the talks.
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