Azimio now demand reduction of price of Unga with a week
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has echoed Azimio party leader Raila Odinga’s proposal of engaging in bipartisan talks with President William Ruto outside parliament.
Speaking in Machakos, Sifuna argued that parliament confines will inhibit a successful discussion due to the laws enshrined in the constitution.
“It is very difficult to have open discussions in parliament. So, we have decided that those leading the talks can be parliamentarians but the meetings should be outside the building,” he explained.
Sifuna also stated that Mr Odinga had urged politicians affiliated with his party to avoid talks that would inhibit the success of the bipartisan discussions.
“We would like these talks to be very transparent and at the heart of them let us discuss issues facing ordinary Kenyans. If the price of unga will not go down then there is no need of having these discussions.”
The second-term senator and an Azimio die-hard also stated that if the price of maize flour would not have reduced by next week, there will be no other need to continue with the bipartisan talks.
“We will return to Kenyans and tell them that our brothers have refused to listen to our pleas and request for a way forward from them.”
In his latest demands, Mr Odinga has recommended measures to lower the cost of unga, fuel, electricity, and school fees.
Mr Odinga, who finished second behind President Ruto in the 2022 presidential elections, has also asked for a review and forensic audit of the servers used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before, during, and after the 2022 presidential election.
He has also demanded for a review of the appointment and dismissal of IEBC commissioners, including their tenure of office, and recommend institutional, policy, legal, and constitutional mechanisms, restructuring, and reforms of the IEBC.”
Further, the former Prime Minister has proposed that there should be a requirement for MPs who cross party lines after elections to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate and to allow parties to replace nominated MPs who cross party lines.
After weeks of protests leading to deaths and destruction of properties, President Ruto recently agreed to dialogue Me Odinga in a bid to address some of the issues he had raised.
Also read: Vipindiree? Behind the Amber Ray, Kennedy Rapudo breakup