Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has reprimanded Mount Kenya leaders, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, arguing that they were unconscious of the gravity of the talks between the government and the opposition.
While speaking to his constituents on Monday, July 31, Senator Khalwale claimed that Central Kenya leaders harboured selfish interests and were out to deter the talks by issuing insensitive demands.
"I have heard Mount Kenya leaders issuing demands that the Deputy President must be in the talks between President William Ruto and Honourable Raila Odinga.
"I would like to tell them that such demands are premature and are not good for the country," Khalwale urged his Mount Kenya colleagues in the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
He thus warned that the rise of splinter groups seeking to satisfy personal interests would weaken the government ahead of the discussions between the two leaders.
Khalwale further urged the politicians to embrace the talks, emphasising that they are crucial for the country's prosperity. He also explained that Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, already discussed the perimeters of the talks, including the composition of the committee that will spearhead the negotiations.
The President, he advised, should be allowed to exercise leadership and act without being coerced by leaders advocating for regional interests.
"Ruto and Raila first met and discussed the way forward when no one else was in that room. It is not right for Gachagua to demand inclusion in the talks.
"President Ruto and Raila would rather sit down and talk, and fail to agree within a meeting rather than the opposition taking to the streets causing loss of lives," Khalwale cautioned.
Nonetheless, the lawmaker passionately urged the President and his nemesis to rise above partisanship as the country was optimistic about the prospects of the talks.
"We have no problem if the two will confront each other in that meeting room but we don't want ordinary people combating each other due to political disagreements," Khalwale stated.
On Monday, July 31, Azimio la Umoja Coalition appointed five representatives trusted to spearhead talks with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
Among them were Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, DAP Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.
"Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise.
"Azimio will respect Kenya Kwanza's right to bring all its issues to the table. We expect Kenya Kwanza to do the same with our issues," read the statement in part.
