Bipartisan review of IEBC laws: Azimio, Kenya Kwanza to hold PG meetings

President William Ruto (L) and Opposition leader Raila Odinga. [File, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza coalitions are set to hold Parliamentary Group meetings before House sittings resume on Tuesday, April 11.

The coalitions' plans were disclosed by the National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro and Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi.

According to Osoro, the Kenya Kwanza Coalition is planning a joint PG meeting bringing together members of the Senate and the National Assembly. He said the date and venue will be communicated on Wednesday, April 5.

"As a coalition, we (Kenya Kwanza) will have a Parliamentary Group meeting in less than a week's time. That is before parliament resumes next Tuesday," Osoro told Citizen Television on Tuesday morning, April 4.

"The meeting will not only focus on the issues raised by the Opposition. It is our routine to hold these meetings before the House resumes to set the agenda for the entire session," added Osoro.

On the other hand, Wandayi said Azimio la Umoja Coalition will hold its Parliamentary Group meeting on Thursday, April 6 in Machakos County.

He said the meeting's objective will be to strategise on the proposal by President William Ruto to have a bipartisan parliamentary team take part in reviewing the laws on the selection process of IEBC commissioners.

"We have planned for a PG meeting on Thursday morning (April 6) in Machakos County. We will also meet with Azimio governors as well as leaders of the minority side and speakers in Azimio-led counties," Wandayi said on Citizen Television.

On Sunday, April 2, President Ruto urged Raila Odinga to call off countrywide anti-government protests, asking him to embrace a bipartisan approach to solve the grievances he had against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Hours later, Odinga heeded the president's call and cancelled demonstrations slated for Monday, April 3.

The former prime minister also agreed to adopt the parliamentary bipartisan approach that had been proposed by Ruto.