The Azimio La Umoja team through the ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya has unveiled its public engagement hours after Kenya Kwanza announced its team to dialogue on issues raised by the Azimio La Umoja.
In a letter dated 11th April 2023, Oparanya note that on 1 April 2023, they called off street demonstrations against the Kenya Kwanza regime to give way for a structured
dialogue on issues they feel are critical the wellbeing of the country namely:
- The high cost of unga, fuel, electricity and school fees.
- Opening and audit of the IEBC servers.
- Protection of the letter and spirit of fidelity to multiparty democracy.
- Adherence to the principle of inclusivity in appointment of civil servants.
It is in this regard, according to the Oparanya, that “we make the following pronouncements:
- We have today appointed Senior Counsel Hon (Dr.) Paul Otiende Amolo, to serve as chairman of the seven-member team of negotiators agreed on last week.
- As the negotiators take up their responsibilities, we will embark on a series of direct engagements with members of the public through town hall meetings and public Barazas.
- We will hold the first town hall meeting in Nairobi on Thursday, 13th April 2023, to be followed by a people’s Baraza at the Kamukunji grounds on Sunday, 16th April, 2023.
- The purpose of the town hall meetings and public barazas is to enable the party explain to the people where we are and the upcoming course of action following the suspension of protests.
- The letter and spirit of fidelity to multipartyism must be entrenched in the ongoing negotiations. We continue to reiterate that we expect parliamentary parties and membership be respected and not undermined during the talks.
- Azimio remains committed to the spirit of the Easter deal that saw the two parties to commit dialogue and call on Kenya Kwanza to come to the table with clean hands, unclenched fists, and a commitment to an honest and transparent process that engages on all the issues bedeviling our country, namely extremely high cost of living, electoral injustices that we have swept under the carpet for decades, safeguarding multipartyism and safeguarding our civil service from politics.”
