Kenya Kwanza's seven-member team on Friday, April 28, pressured Azimio to commit to the bipartisan talks or resolve to hold protests fully.
Addressing the media, the bipartisan team co-chairperson George Murugara reprimanded the Azimio faction, arguing that anti-government demonstrations would derail the process.
He thus called on Raila Odinga-led team to drop the planned protests and return to the negotiation table.
"We wish to call on our friends to return to the table we engage but it has to be the table, not the streets.
"We now call on them to call off the violent protests and equally appeal to them to resume the peaceful bipartisan engagement for the nation's sake," Murugara stated.
Murugara's sentiments were echoed by the Leader of the Majority, Kimani Ichung'wah, who castigated Azimio, accusing them of double-speak.
"It's either Azimio submits itself to the bipartisan talks or goes back to the streets. Its leaders should know. They can't have it both ways," Ichungwah, who accompanied President William Ruto during the launch of various projects, stated.
Besides calling off planned demonstrations, the Kenya Kwanza faction asked Azimio to drop Pokot South MP David Pkosing.
The team opposed the inclusion of Pkosing from the bipartisan talks arguing that he was a member of the Kenya Union Party (KUP), which had entered into a pre-election pact with Kenya Kwanza.
However, to woo Azimio back on the negotiation table, Kenya Kwanza reiterated its commitment to recuse Eldas MP Aden Keynan from the talks.
"To demonstrate our commitment to the one process of a peaceful bipartisan engagement, we are ready to recuse Hon Keynan from the process," Murugara stated.
Azimio had suspended the negotiations indicating that they had failed to reach a consensus with the Kenya Kwanza team. They demanded the exclusion of Keynan, who they argued was still recognised as an official in the outfit.
They gave Kenya Kwanza an option of nominating another person to join the bipartisan talks.
"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 pre-election agreement with Azimio," Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo insisted.
However, Ruto vowed to oppose and act on calls for weekly protests sponsored by Azimio leaders. He challenged the opposition to give negotiations a chance.
