KK, Azimio Teams of Negotiators Should Embrace Spirit Of Give And Take
The Mt Kenya Times 
President William Ruto shakes hands with Azimio leader Raila Odinga in a previous event.
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- The three issues are: opening of 2022 presidential election servers; reinstatement of ‘Cherera four’ and return of the food, fuel and electricity subsidies.
- Notably, the Azimio leader convened a press conference immediately after the President spoke.
- He stated that he fully concurred with him. In right of President Ruto’s positive gesture, I have called off the demonstrations to create room for dialogue. We are going to unveil our team and the other side (the government) will do the same.
- Here, two things were very clear. The talks will be held through a bipartisan parliamentary process. Besides, Ruto did not mention the three issues.
The stage is now set for the start of bipartisan talks meant to address the demands raised by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition that were at core of bloody and destructive demonstrations called by the coalition leader Raila Odinga.
This followed the ceding of the hardline positions.
Reports indicated the emissaries from both sides had held a series of meetings before the truce was announced.
In a televised address to the nation, President William Ruto noted.
We have listened and looked at demands raised by my brother Raila Odinga and his brigade.
As way of moving forward, I call upon Raila to call off demonstrations so that we have sober and candid conversations.
As leaders, we are required to reason together and come up with tangible solutions to challenges facing our nation.
As we do this, we must be guided by the constitution and rule of law.
Therefore, these talks should be held within the framework of bipartisan process that would be exclusively parliamentary-driven, Dr Ruto further noted.
From the onset, his remarks and body language pointed to one thing.
Some of the demands did not fall within the parameters of the law and hence they were ill-advised and made in bad faith.
For now, it is clear three issues have been left out which means they will not deliberated upon during the negotiations.
The three issues are: opening of 2022 presidential election servers; reinstatement of ‘Cherera four’ and return of the food, fuel and electricity subsidies.
Notably, the Azimio leader convened a press conference immediately after the President spoke.
He stated that he fully concurred with him. In right of President Ruto’s positive gesture, I have called off the demonstrations to create room for dialogue. We are going to unveil our team and the other side (the government) will do the same.
Here, two things were very clear. The talks will be held through a bipartisan parliamentary process. Besides, Ruto did not mention the three issues.
Therefore, I could not have expected Raila to turn around and make new demands.
However, it seems he was given a good advise. Resorting to such a move would dent his image.
Two days he toned down and chaired a meeting that unveiled the seven-member team of Azimio lawmakers.
Having participated in the negotiations and studied similar conversations here in Kenya and other parts of the world, allow me to give the two teams my unsolicited advice.
The spirit of the give-and- take must take precedence in the negotiations.
Besides, if possible, hardliners should kept away from the talks.
In case they are selected, then they shouldn’t be allowed to manage, chair or moderate the negotiations.
They should be confined to back seats. They are however free to air thier views but this should be in tandem with the rules of engagements.
As a show of commitment to this course, the ruling Kenya Kwanza convened a second meeting to review the list of members it had earlier released.
In eyes of public, majority leader in parliament Kimani Ichungwah and his senate Aaron Cheruiyot had curved a niche of being hardliners.
The two were removed. Azimio also made a similar move. Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi was removed.
Majority of Kenyans yearns for peace and unity in the country.
So, their wish is to see these talks bearing fruits.
When peace is disrupted, the economy bore the greatest brunt. No development can be realized.
Mostly, the protesters target businesses. Traders would be left counting loses running into billion of shillings. Private properties would also be destroyed and torched.
During the Azimio demos, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua noted. The traders in Nairobi were losing more than Sh2 billion every day.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political commentator based in Nairobi
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