Says talks must include participants from outside Parliament for inclusivity

He said such a structure will create an avenue for the inclusion of other outstanding constitutional issues to be canvased in the talks

The Azimio leader also reiterated his earlier demand that the talks be concluded within 30 days from the date of commencement

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has issued fresh demands before the resumption of bipartisan talks with the Kenya Kwanza counterparts.

In a press statement on Thursday, Raila said among the new demands is that the dialogue process must be expanded to include participants outside Parliament for inclusivity.

“We still believe the talks cannot be driven entirely and exclusively through a parliamentary process. There must be an avenue to be inclusive and allow for the participation of players from outside Parliament in the talks,” Raila said.

He said such a structure will create an avenue for the inclusion of other outstanding constitutional issues to be canvased in the talks. “We have instructed our delegates to raise this,” Raila said.

The Azimio leader also reiterated his earlier demand that the talks be concluded within 30 days from the date of commencement.

Raila has further said all the youths who are in police custody in relation to the Azimio protests must be released before the resumption of the talks.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said on Tuesday that at least 46 people were arrested as police worked across the country to contain the planned Azimio protests.

“We have also made it clear that our youths who were arrested and arraigned in court on trumped-up charges must be released unconditionally ahead of the talks.”

Raila said Azimio supporters who were arrested on Tuesday were blamed for the chaos caused by hired goons.

He said their other demands on the Kenya Kwanza government remain unchanged as they gear for the resumption of the bipartisan talks. This includes a reduction of the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 presidential election results, restructuring and reconstitution of the IEBC and an end to the interference of management and operations of political parties with a view of co-opting them in government to weaken them.