The technical committees formed to harmonise the agenda of the dialogue between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga will meet today ahead of the talks planned for Monday.
The eight-member committee had been scheduled to meet yesterday to iron out the points of departure between the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya and Kenya Kwanza teams.
Both sides have named their representatives to the technical committee, which they said would advise the larger committee co-chaired by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah. In a statement yesterday, Ichung'wa appointed Muthomi Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang' as members of its team.
"This team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation," the Kikuyu lawmaker said.
On Thursday, Kalonzo appointed Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, Zein Abubakar and Isabel Githinji to Azimio's technical team.
"The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy resolution of the objectives of the dialogue," Kalonzo said in a statement. His coalition wants the discussions concluded in a month.
The two teams agreed to form a joint technical team during their first meeting on Wednesday owing to differences in their agenda. The only agenda they agree on is the reconstitution of the electoral commission.
Azimio wants the talks to focus on the cost of living, an audit of last year's elections, inclusivity in national affairs and the respect for political parties while Kenya Kwanza wants the talks to be about Ruto's memorandum to Parliament issued last year.
Among the issues include the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule as a key agenda, the entrenchment of the constituency development fund in the Constitution, the establishment of the office of the leader of the opposition, and the embedment of the office of the prime cabinet secretary.
The first meeting was cordial, with both parties committing to respect each other's proposed discussions, amid serious doubts that they will eventually agree on some of the agenda items.
"We will work as a team and we are adopting the bipartisan framework, but with amendments... there has been a demonstration of good faith on both sides," Kalonzo stated, a message conveyed by Ichung'wa, too.
"We are engaging on the basis of mutual respect and these talks will be in the interest of Kenyans. We can't afford to fail on this process. We may agree on some issues and disagree on some but we will engage in good faith," said Ichung'wa, whose Kenya Kwanza is opposed to the inclusion of the cost of living in the talks. Ruto is banking on interventions such as the fertiliser subsidy to eventually lower food costs.
