Azimio Disowns Kenya Kwanza's Statement On Talks, Says Cost Of Living Is Priority In Mediation Discussions

• Azimio la Umoja Coalition renounced Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah's joint statement on mediation talks with the Kenya Kwanza
• Azimio's maintained its main priorities in the talks are the high cost of living, electoral audit and IEBC reforms, non-interference in coalitions, and police brutality
• Philip Etale announced that the Raila Odinga-led faction would issue a comprehensive statement on their position regarding the planned truce talks

Nairobi- The Azimio la Umoja Coalition has disowned a joint statement that Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah released, indicating that the two warring factions will hold mediation talks.

While admitting Azimio will participate in the mediation talks facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Opposition said it was yet to table its four-point agenda for the planned discourse.

Contrary to the statement that the majority leader released on his social media platforms, Azimio maintained the high cost of living is its main priority and not the issues listed by the Kenya Kwanza government.

According to Kalonzo Musyoka, Azimio's main agenda in the talks is the economic crisis that has plunged many Kenyans into poverty, electoral audit and IEBC reforms, non-interference in coalitions and their constituent parties and police brutality.

This came amid criticism after Kenyans noted that the cost of living had been left out of the agenda as it was conspicuously missing in Ichung'wah's statement.

Many Kenyans wondered if the Opposition coalition used the high cost of living during its protests as a smokescreen to get a slice of the government.

"Cognizant of the crisis of living bedevilling the nation with many Kenyans under the pump, our coalition cannot at the very least even countenance a conversation involving the establishment of positions not contemplated by our constitution," a part of its communique indicated.

Further, Philip Etale, who is the ODM communication director, said the Raila Odinga-led faction will today, Sunday, July 30, release a comprehensive statement on its position on the planned talks.

Fresh Azimio-Kenya Kwanza talks

On Saturday, July 29, the Opposition stated its commitment to engage the government on issues pertinent to the nation after push and pull that culminated in deadly anti-government protests.

According to a statement released, a ten-member committee will therefore be set up for the mediation between the sides under the stewardship of Obasanjo.

"It will be composed of five members each from Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza; four members from outside Parliament (two from each side), the leaders of majority and minority from the National Assembly, and four additional members of parliament (two from each side)," Ichung'wah's statement indicated.

Ruto-Raila secret meeting

This came at the back of rumours of a supposed secret meeting between President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The two political bigwigs are alleged to have met on Friday, July 28, without their allies to iron out their issues.

According to NTV, they met in Mombasa.