Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza's bipartisan team, on Tuesday, April 25, suspended their dialogue over a stalemate.
In a statement issued by Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo, Azimio indicated that it had failed to reach a consensus with Kenya Kwanza on removing MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas) and David Pkosing (Pokot South).
According to Amollo, who spoke at a hotel in Nairobi, the two teams had three options only, either or both Keynan (Kenya Kwanza) and Pkosing (Azimio) can choose to withdraw from the team.
The second option was for each party to withdraw their objection to Keynan and Pkosing and allow the two to continue being members of the bipartisan team.
The last option was Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga, and President William Ruto, choosing to withdraw any of the two MPs on their own accord.
"Until then, we have hit a stalemate and chose to suspend these talks until such time as there may be consensus or position changes," Amollo stated.
"Adan Keynan, who defected to Kenya Kwanza, is not a Jubilee member. He is in Azimio Coalition - as a vice chair deputising Wycliffe Oparanya (former Kakamega governor). We have not had an issue of principle on Pkosing. He is a member of the Kenya Union Party (KUP), which signed a preelection agreement with Azimio," the MP added.
He further argued that KUP, led by former West Pokot governor, John Krop Lanyangapuo, in April 2023, stated that it was about to make a move towards withdrawal.
"To date, no agreement to withdraw from Azimio. Pkosing is the deputy leader and has not made any indication to move. He is also the deputy treasurer in Azimio.
"This shows that the Pkosing issue was made as an afterthought to appear as if we are on the same pedestal with the grievance we raised on Keynan's issue. It's a basis of intention, not reality," he added.
Kenya Kwanza responding to Azimio, noted that they had agreed to accommodate demands made by the side, including the listing of a secretariat led by lawyer Paul Mwangi.
Further, the Kenya Kwanza side noted that they had agreed to engage their principals regarding the inclusion of Adan Keynan.
To address the standoff, Kenya Kwanza proposed a separate meeting between former President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, together with the bipartisan chairs, to iron out some of the issues raised.
"On the part of Kenya Kwanza, we have agreed that we require further consultations with the principles of the coalitions so that we are able to move forward," Tharaka Member of Parliament George Gitonga stated.
"Therefore, as we adjourn today, it is open for Otiende Amollo and myselt (Gitonga) to meet President Ruto and also meet the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a co-principal so that we can give them a report," he added.
He added that for the talks to continue, both principles (Raila and Ruto) could decide to withdraw their objections on Keynan and Pkosing, allowing them to participate in the bipartisan talks.
According to Tharaka MP, that would be a win-win situation for both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.
Another option presented by Kenya Kwanza was to allow Raila and Ruto to withdraw Keynan and Pkosing, allowing the talks to proceed without them.
"The third option we have is that both members sit down and evaluate themselves and make voluntary resignations," Gitonga insisted.
"The coalition principles can either decide to nominate another person or leave the numbers as they are," he added.
Gitonga, however, vowed to give a progress report on Friday, April 28, after meeting Ruto and Raila.
