Scheduled talks between President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga hang in the balance after the government, represented by the Kenya Kwanza coalition, made a u-turn on discussing three key issues raised by the opposition.
Speaking in Murang'a County on Saturday, August 5, Kimani Ichung'wah, Kikuyu Member of Parliament and National Assembly majority leader, opposed plans to discuss the audit of the 2022 election results and the high cost of living.
Ichung'wah, who is also leading the Ruto delegation in the talks, added that they will not encourage dialogue centred around the opposition's inclusivity in government.
The Kikuyu MP had expressed willingness to engage with the opposition to discuss five issues, including the implementation of the 2/3 gender rule and the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of Opposition.
Others were the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the embedment of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
"If they want to reduce the cost of living, let them go to the farm, and we can supply them with fertiliser," Ichung'wah made the remarks while accompanying the Head of State on a five-day development tour in Mt Kenya region.
The lawmaker argued that he had received firm instructions from Ruto regarding the planned engagement with Azimio, insisting that the talks will not result in any government arrangement on a power-sharing formula.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, on the other end, advised Ruto to pull out of the talks, arguing that the dialogue was aimed at derailing the Kenya Kwanza agenda and Ruto's legacy.
On his part, Ruto reiterated his unwavering commitment to creating employment opportunities for Kenyans through programs such as the Hustler Fund. He firmly dismissed the possibility of settling for a handshake government.
"All those tricks they were using to look for ways to get into the government will not work. I want to assure them that I will stand firm when it comes to protests that are used to destroy property."
Azimio is yet to respond to the new developments, which may hamper the progress of the talks set to commence on Monday, August 7.
In previous press conferences, the opposition emphasised that it would not relent on the issues it demanded to be addressed.
The selection of new IEBC commissioners and the cost of living were among its top priorities, followed by the creation of the Office of the Opposition Leader.
