On Thursday, April 13, Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, addressed a gathering of supporters at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, voicing concerns over the lack of progress in bipartisan negotiations with the Kenya Kwanza regime.
Odinga accused Kenya Kwanza of dishonesty and insincerity in their approach to the national dialogue, stating that the Azimio La Umoja movement was witnessing “worrying signs of a lack of seriousness.” He went on to say that the people had urged Azimio leadership to resume their bi-weekly demonstrations, dubbed “Maandamano,” immediately following the conclusion of Ramadan.
The Azimio La Umoja leader further criticized President William Ruto’s camp for their reluctance to participate in the bipartisan process, accusing them of treating the negotiations as a mere rubber stamp for the Kenya Kwanza regime. Odinga warned that if the talks were to falter due to a lack of openness, honesty, or cooperation from their opponents, the people would be left with no choice but to “take their future and that of their country into their hands.”
The Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has already announced its team for the parliamentary bipartisan negotiations, while Kenya Kwanza named its representatives on April 11, following the conclusion of their Parliamentary Group meeting at State House Nairobi.
National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah reiterated that the Constitution of Kenya empowers Parliament to resolve issues of concern to the Kenyan people, adding that the Parliamentary Group had agreed with the president on a bipartisan approach to address such matters. Ichung’wah also reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to the rule of law and constitutionalism.
With the resumption of protests on the horizon and a lack of progress in bipartisan talks, the coming weeks will prove crucial for both the Azimio La Umoja movement and the Kenya Kwanza regime as they navigate the path to a mutually agreeable resolution.