Azimio la Umoja Leader Raila Odinga has threatened to announce the resumption of anti-government protests if the new bipartisan team does not agree on issues affecting the country within thirty days.
Speaking on Saturday during a funeral in Gem, Siaya County, Raila said the opposition is open to negotiating with the government but will not settle for anything less than what they are demanding.
"I have said that we, as Azimio, are ready to talk. We will talk and give Kenya Kwanza thirty days to engage. If they remain unyielding, after thirty days, I will issue another order. However, we have given the team led by Kalonzo Musyoka permission to negotiate with those from the other side,” said Raila.
He added, “We are engaging them without conditions; similarly, they should not impose conditions on us. But if they are not willing to engage and agree with us as we desire, then we are stating that after thirty days, Kenyans will take different actions."
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Among the issues the opposition wants the Kenya Kwanza government to address in the fresh talks are the high cost of living, audit of 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of IEBC, inclusivity in national affairs, and respect for political parties in line with the constitution.
The Kenya Kwanza side on the other hand has listed the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, implementation of 2/3 gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund, establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary as the agenda of the talks with Azimio.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah in a letter to Kalonzo on Friday proposed the talks to begin on Thursday next week at a public place. Azimio had asked the government side to turn up on Monday next week at 11 am at Serena Hotel for the commencement of their talks.
