Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan Talks Team Leader Kimani Ichung'wah on Monday revealed that he has called his Azimio counterpart, Kalonzo Musyoka, and agreed on a date for resuming ceasefire talks.
Speaking in Mukurweini in Nyeri County during President William Ruto's five-day working tour to the Mt. Kenya region, the National Assembly Majority Leader revealed that the two parties have agreed to meet at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday, August 9, at 11 am.
"We shall not meet in a hotel, I told them we do not have money for tea. We shall sit at Bomas and discuss the issues affecting Kenyans, the five issues listed," he revealed.
He further stated that the ruling coalition would approach the talks with an open mind and would address the issues raised by the opposition except the ones the government camp has refused.
Kenya Kwanza has rejected the possibility of entertaining talks addressing the cost of living, auditing the results of the 2022 presidential election and sharing power.
On the cost of living, the Kikuyu MP stated the Kenya Kwanza administration is already working on addressing that.
"The people of Kenya 'hired' you Mr. President to lower the cost of living and you have done so by slashing the cost of fertiliser and the price of cooking gas. You have done more through the Finance Act that they are contesting in court," he added.
The staunch Ruto ally also warned Azimio Party leader Raila Odinga against giving ultimatums and issuing threats to get what he wants in the talks.
"We demand you respect the president elected by the people of Kenya. You can not threaten and blackmail us to coerce us to agree to what you want or else you will go back to the streets," Ichung'wah demanded.
The MP urged the opposition to table issues centered on developing the country, and uplifting Kenyans, and steer clear of issues that are geared at benefiting a few individuals.
Ichung'wah backed himself to hold his own in the talks arguing that Ruto is busy working for the Kenyan people and should not be dragged into political mischief revolving around the talks.
Instructively, this came one day after Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen rebuked Ichung'wah telling him to stop addressing Kalonzo via letters posted on social media and call him directly.
Conversely, this came a week after Kenya Kwanza failed to honor a meeting scheduled for Monday, August 7 at Serena Hotel citing other engagements.
The Kenya Kwanza camp countered the proposal by suggesting their own date for the talks. They also rejected the venue proposed by Azimio — Serena Hotel— insisting the talks be held at government facilities.
Ichung'wah proposed the talks be held at County Hall or at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete.
