President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga's agreement letters have revealed glaring inconsistencies regarding the agreement between the opposing camps to resolve the political impasse.
Kenyans.co.ke has established that the Kenya Kwanza statement, signed by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah, detailed five key issues that would form the basis of the discussions.
These included reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of the 2/3 gender rule and entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The final two issues involved the establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and the embedment of the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Interestingly, Kenya Kwanza's statement was not signed by National Assembly's Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, leaving questions about whether the opposition side agreed to the said terms.
Consequently, the issues were missing in Azimio's statement which was signed by Wandayi.
The opposition's statement only contained the resolution of establishment of a committee consisting of five members each to resolve the differences amicably.
"They include four members from outside Parliament, two from each side. The Leaders of Majority and Minority from the National Assembly, four additional Members of Parliament, two from each side," the statement read in part.
Further, the Azimio statement alleged that Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo would mediate talks between the Raila Odinga-led outfit and Ruto's administration - something that was conspicuously missing on the Kenya Kwanza statement.
Smelling foul play, members of the Azimio side noted that such deceptive tricks would not solve the differences. They wondered why the cost of living was not among the key issues stipulated.
"Total nonsense. Where’s the cost of living among the Terms of Reference? We better talk in the streets," Embakasi East Babu Owino opined.
"If cost of living isn’t part of the negotiations, Babu Owino and I will demand that we have a parallel initiative. Our people shouldn’t have lost their lives for these jokes. We must be serious. There is no seriousness here," Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai stated.
