United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general, Cleophas Malala, on Wednesday, April 12, defended selecting Eldas MP Adan Keynan as a Kenya Kwanza representative in the bipartisan talks, arguing that it symbolised the coalition was inclusive.
In a press briefing at their party offices, Malala noted that Keynan was part of a team from the Jubilee party who had declared support for the government and had distanced themselves from the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
He termed the action a strategic move to ensure all matters discussed aligned with the Constitution.
"Every coach knows how to select his team. Kenyans elected our selected people, and UDA empowered the team to deliberate on the issues.
"They've also complained that we selected a member from Jubilee. I would like to state that this is the reason why the team is called bipartisan. We would like all parties to be represented in the talks. It's not a matter of UDA or ODM. We would like all parties to be represented.
"We also have leaders who decamped to UDA from Azimio. In our party constitution, we have the right to select members who have joined us from other parties. Keynan has every right to sit in the panel," he noted.
While alluding to Azimio's resumption of barazas, the SG noted that the Kenya-Kwanza administration would not be pulled into the theatrics caused by the Opposition.
"We also heard that they planned to hold barazas. You can continue the meetings while the government focuses on improving Kenyans' lives.
The UDA politician echoed President Ruto's promise for the prices of basic goods to decrease in the coming week.
"Finally, the goods that Ruto had promised would come into the country, have already arrived in Mombasa. These involve items such as maize, and sugar, so next week prices of goods will come down," he reiterated.
Azimio politicians had warned the government that they would continue with the mass demonstrations if the Kenya Kwanza administration were not serious with the bipartisan talks.
"The lack of seriousness of the bipartisan deliberation on the Kenya Kwanza part is the straw that broke the camel's back! We are back to the people," Narok Senator Ledama Olekina lamented.
