Ruto Meets his Bipartisan Team to Quell Confusion Amid Cracks

Thursday, May 25, 2023 –President William Ruto has today evening met with the Kenya Kwanza Bipartisan representatives for a briefing.

Ruto’s meeting with the Boni Khalwale-led team comes at the time the dialogue between the two rival factions stopped after they failed to agree on certain interim provisions and modalities.

Khalwale, who led his troops to meet with their party leader William Ruto, on Thursday May 25, divulged that the President had urged them to go back to the talks and strictly adhere to the rule of law.

“An evening briefing on the status of the bipartisan talks to H.E William Ruto. He has advised that we proceed strictly within the rule of law,” Khalwale noted.

Khalwale’s evening update follows his earlier animated interview on Citizen Tv where he faced off with his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna.

The Kakamega senator took issue with the ‘blackmail and intimidation’ from the opposition side amid ongoing talks.

Khalwale also claimed that the Kenya Kwanza team was fully committed to the talks but is facing challenges as Azimio La Umoja side has not been cooperative.

“They don’t want to look in the eyes of our co-chair. Olekina and Sifuna are the biggest problems in the meeting, they have never participated in talks like these. The young people stand up and say they want to declare the end of talks before making any contribution,” he said.

In response, Lawyer Sifuna pointed out how, on several occasions, a section of Kenya Kwanza politicians has been arriving for meetings late and with different agenda each pulling in opposite direction.

According to Mr. Sifuna, the Bipartisan team from the government side has been receiving ‘specific instructions from specific people’ so that to interfere with the talks.

“We feel that some people are committed on the discussion while other have specific instructions. In fact, any progress we have seen is when Chair Murugara is absent.

“We can tell and we see who is interested in having talks with us. It is very clear,” Senator Sifuna added.

The politician noted that, apart from the absence of good faith, Kenya Kwanza representatives have no substantial control on even small matters that do not need input from the principals.