Azimio la Umoja, on Tuesday, April 11, poked holes into President William Ruto's bipartisan team of seven, arguing that the members were selected to sabotage the peace talks.
Led by the minority leader, Opiyo Wandayi, Azimio faulted the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group resolution for appointing Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan Wehliye, a member of the Jubilee party.
"We are totally surprised and stunned by the fact that they have appointed Hon. Adan Keynan who is a member of the Azimio la Umoja Coalition," Wandayi stated.
The Azimio la Umoja leadership expressed displeasure at the appointment of Keynan, noting that he was a member of the Jubilee Party, which is an affiliate of their coalition.
"The idea of killing political parties is one of the issues that we would like to address in the Bi-partisan Committee," Wandayi stated.
Keynan decamped to join the government after Azimio La Umoja lost the 2022 General Election.
The coalition also noted that the appointment of Kibwezi West MP, Mwengi Mutuse of Maendeleo Chap Chap was a demonstration of bad faith.
"Legally, Maendeleo Chap Chap and Jubilee Party remain bonified members of the Azimio la Umoja Coalition," Wandayi claimed.
Maendeleo Chap Chap decamped from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition just weeks before the August 2022 General Election.
Former Party Leader of Maendeleo Chap Chap, Alfred Mutua, is currently serving in President William Ruto's government as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Wandayi stated that the Kenya Kwanza coalition was already kicking off the bipartisan talk on a wrong footing that would eventually lead to a stalemate.
The Kenya Kwanza coalition also appointed Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Tharaka MP George Murugara, Taita Taveta Women Representative Lydia Haika, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei and Nominated Senator Essy Okenyuri, who is the youngest member of the Bi-partisan Committee.
The 31-year-old Okenyuri is also the only nomination and youthful MP in the Bipartisan team, which will be charged with the responsibility of reviewing key issues that will be presented by both Azimio la Umoja and the Kenya Kwanza Coalitions.
"Honored by my Party Leader H.E. President William Ruto and Deputy Party Leader H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya Kwanza Coalition and Parliamentary Leadership to be part of the team leading the Bi-Partisan talks.
"I appreciate the trust and confidence, bestowed on me to steer the process of making Kenya a better democracy and rule of law. We pledge to guide the process within the strict confines of the Constitution and the law.
"Nothing extra-legal nothing out of the tenets of the laws. We shall endeavor to make Kenya a paragon of good governance by strengthening institutions," Esther wrote on Twitter.
