On Wednesday, May 17, the parliamentary bipartisan team drawn from Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja issued a raft of demands to the government as talks continued.
The team wrote to the National Assembly and Senate Speakers seeking funds to facilitate its deliberations.
According to the lawmakers, they could not make significant strides since inception due to financial constraints. A budget, they added, would relieve the team from digging into its pockets.
MPs leading the peace talks further asked to be exempted from house business.
Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo, a co-chair of the bipartisan team, added that they also wanted Speakers Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate) to anchor the bipartisan team's formation within the law.
“We are not seeking formalization from parliament. We thus issued notification for recognition,” Otiende stated.
After filing the notification, the bipartisan team believed it would legally be recognised through communication from the Parliament leadership.
Otiende also revealed that they had already formed a sub-committee to prioritise the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel.
“We have constituted a subcommittee of six members. On the Azimio side, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo are members.
“From the Kenya Kwanza side, we have Bungoma Senator Boni Khalwale, Bomet Senator Hilary Sigei and Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse,” Otiende stated.
The bipartisan team hoped to enjoin members from outside Parliament in its discussions in a hybrid system.
“We want to expand this team. Although we will not be adding more members to the 14-member team, we will bring in other members who will serve as a technical team,” Tharaka MP and bipartisan co-chair George Murugara revealed.
The team is expected to deliberate, among other issues, the cost of living, the office of the opposition leader and restructuring of the IEBC selection panel.
