Azimio Invites Kenya Kwanza For First Meeting On August 7, Insist On Discussing Cost Of Living

• The Azimio la Umoja dialogue team invited their Kenya Kwanza counterparts to a meeting at the Serena Hotel for the inaugural truce talks
• Despite Kenya Kwanza's initial stance against discussing the cost of living, Azimio insisted that it will still be included as part of the agenda
• The Opposition faction expressed readiness to engage in the dialogue and is keen to conclude the process before the end of August 2023

Nairobi- The Azimio la Umoja dialogue team has invited its Kenya Kwanza counterparts for the first meeting and, at the same time, insisted that the cost of living will be among the agendas.

Coming just a day after President William Ruto's alliance unveiled its team for the planned bipartisan talks, the Opposition faction hinted at being ready to hit the ground running after extending the invitation to their rivals.

In a statement released on Thursday, August 3, Azimio asked the Kimani Ichung'wah-led team to meet its delegation at the Serena Hotel on August 7, 2023, to begin the second edition of the mediation talks.

"We today extend an invitation to the Kenya Kwanza National Dialogue Team, the Leader of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, and the designated leader of the Kenya Kwanza delegation for the initial joint meeting of both parties at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi, on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 11am," their statement indicated in part.

Azimio on cost-of-living agenda

Kalonzo, the leader of the Azimio dialogue team, explained in the statement that they wanted the discussions held and concluded before the end of August.

"We believe a speedy start and a time-bound program is necessary to put the nation at ease. Consequently, we believe this process should end at the close of August 2023," he said.

Interestingly, Azimio maintained that the cost of living will still be part of the agenda despite Kenya Kwanza maintaining that it would not participate in discussions on the ballooning cost of living.

"Our initial discussions shall take cognizance of the already signed framework document during the bipartisan talks. We commend the constructive spirit and political will displayed so far. All of us now face historic responsibilities to bring about a just and lasting peace in Kenya," the statement indicated.

Cost of living debate in peace talks

This is despite an earlier statement from Kenya Kwanza, which indicated that the cost of living would not be on the agenda.

According to Kimani Ichung'wah, the issues he listed in his statement will be the only ones up for debate in the discourse.

The Kikuyu MP claimed that his colleagues in Azimio already knew the five issues agreed on.

"The question of the cost of living was discussed, and it was agreed that it is the work of any government anywhere in the world to deal with the issues of the cost of living and the issues that concern the people," he said

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Kalonzo and Kimani Ichung'wah.

Azimio Invites Kenya Kwanza for First Meeting on August 7, Insist on Discussing Cost of Living

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