Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has re affirmed Kenyans that the United States will not “in any way influence” President William Ruto’s administration into striking a handshake deal with Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga.
On Sunday, Cherargei termed Odinga’s move to presume a crisis was brewing in the country with an intention of attracting international attention and cast the country in bad light as unfortunate with the controversial senator maintaining that the country was on an upward trajectory.
“Despite the presence of Senator Coons – USA shall NOT in any way influence H.E Dr William Samoei Arap Ruto and Kenya kwanza administration into a handshake/nusu mkate with Tinga/Azimio-OKA. Period!” he stated.
Senator Cherargei went ahead to tell Azimio to brace themselves for a daunting task ahead and a challenging path as their efforts to initiate discussion with His Excellency Dr William Ruto’s government would not be met with ease.
“Azimio-OKA / Tinga walambe glucose safari bado ni mbali.” (Azimio-OKA should lick glucose as the journey is just beginning). Cherargei reiterated.
On Sunday Odinga held talks with US senator for Delaware Chris Coons in Kisumu ahead of the resumption of bi-partisan talks. Senator Coons is credited for playing a key role in formulizing the handshake agreement between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga 2018.
Azimio La Umoja and Kenya Kwanza have appointed five members each to the bi-partisan talks team. Embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni will lead the Azimio La Umoja Coalition legal and technical team in the dialogue with Kenya Kwanza that kicked off last week at Bomas.
The Raila Odinga-led coalition has urged the ruling coalition to shun derogatory remarks aimed at undermining the talks even as the two sides prepare for dialogue.
“We appeal to Kenya Kwanza that vitriol must now end because it won’t work. Propaganda must now end because it has not solved our problems this past year and it won’t, in the coming year,” Odinga stated during a press conference.
The opposition remains adamant that they are goin to dialogue with Kenya Kwanza in good faith despite noise of the talks flopping due to different terms and talking points from both sides of the divide.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah-led team includes Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (UDA), Embu Governor and UDA Party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar (UDA) and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilanga (Ford Kenya).
Musyoka’s team includes National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi (ODM), Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi (ODM), Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni (ODM).