Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah on Wednesday failed to make it on time for the bipartisan talks between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga's teams.
Ichung'wah, who earlier accompanied Ruto to a rally in Naromoru, is supposed to be the co-chair of the 10-member bipartisan committee supposed to break the political impasse that has rocked the country in recent months.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire was forced to step in for Ichung'wah, explaining that the Kikuyu Member of Parliament could not make it to the meeting on time because of bad weather.
Azimio team led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka arrived early for the talks, but the start was delayed as the teams waited for Ichung'wa.
"He is now airborne and we are expecting him any moment from now," Mbarire explained.
While in Nyeri, Ichung'wah sought permission from President William Ruto to leave the rally at Naromoru prematurely to attend the talks.
Kalonzo in his opening speech announced that Azimio would respect Kenya Kwanza and negotiate in good faith while genuinely seeking a just outcome for all Kenyans.
While at the rally, Ichung'wah had announced that he would make sure that as co-chair of the dialogue team, he would thwart any advance by the opposition to seek inclusion in the government.
Kalonzo maintained the opposition's stand that inclusion to the government would be an agenda by remarking, "We will not negotiate for any form of power-sharing with Kenya Kwanza or put any personal interests ahead of interests of the people."
The Azimio principal noted that issues to be discussed would be those seeking to provide solutions that affect Kenya now and in the future.
Mbarire on her part admitted that she had no speech prepared but had been instructed by Ruto to discuss issues brought on the table.
She echoed Kalonzo's sentiments that the talks would be held in good faith and Kenya Kwanza would also put the interests of Kenyans forward.
