Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has restated his reservation on the Bi-partisan talks bringing together representatives from both the government and opposition.
Speaking on Sunday, September 10, during a church service in Laare, Meru County, Gachagua sustained his dissent from the engagements saying the agenda being advanced by the opposition is politically sinister.
According to him, the talks would not yield anything to the advantage of Kenyans but for a few people who he implied are selfish.
Gachagua pointed out the demand by the opposition to have an electoral audit with respect to the last year's presidential vote.
The deputy president said the matter was conclusively interrogated by the Supreme Court in the petition filed by ODM leader Raila Odinga to challenge President William Ruto's win.
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"Your Excellency you know I and many people, your supporters, were against these talks with Azimio people but we agreed because you decided we talk. But we don't agree with the agenda therein. How will they audit the 2022 election? They don't have the capacity and there's no provision for that," said Gachagua.
He stated that the opposition was aiming at a power-sharing deal with the government behind the guise of the bi-partisan talks.
Gachagua observed that by entertaining the supposed antics from the opposition, the government was abetting bad habits.
"A decision was made by the Supreme Court and you were sworn in as president. We don't agree with that and would want to ask the agenda be dropped...We are encouraging bad habits paying attention to them," he said.
Meanwhile, the committee steering the talks has settled on five issues to be deliberated on.
The talks are stewarded by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka who represents the opposition, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah representing the government.
In a statement on August 30, the committee listed constitutional matters including Article 43 of the constitution, implementation of the "two-thirds gender rule, governance issues, and adequate checks and balances as the issues to be discussed.
NADCO also agreed to negotiate the restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), boundaries delimitation; and the audit of the 2022 presidential election.
The committee would also discuss the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund; and the Senate Oversight Fund.
In addition, the committee, led by Kimani Ichung'wah and Kalonzo Musyoka, will discuss the establishment of the office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, the entrenchment of the office of the Secretary to the Cabinet, and interference by political parties and coalitions.
Ichung’wah and Kalonzo also signed a framework agreement for the dialogue.
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