On Thursday, August 3, opposition leader Raila Odinga’s negotiation team wrote to President William Ruto’s team proposing a first meeting to be held on Monday, August 7.
In a statement, Raila’s team led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had further suggested that the first meeting be held at the luxurious Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
However, President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza team on Friday, August 4, proposed a change of venue and date.
Kenya Kwanza team leader Kimani Ichungwah in a statement proposed for the first meeting to be held on Thursday, August 10, at a public venue.
The National Assembly Majority leader proposed the meeting to be held at City Hall over what he termed as a ‘cost-cutting’ move.
Kikuyu MP said this was in line with Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to effecting austerity measures both at individual and collective levels in light of the prevailing high cost of living.
Ichungwah, who is being considered as a hardliner further said that since they will be discussing matters of public interest, it would have been practical if the discussions are held at a public venue.
“We respectively request your team to allow the two teams to schedule our meetings at public venues such as County Hall which I would be happy to engage the Public Service Commission to make available or in the alternative at the school of government,
“These are the venue that will not occasion any additional expenditure to the public and which would otherwise be available for such public meetings at little or no cost to us or to the Kenyan Taxpayers as opposed to the luxurious five-star Serena Hotel, Nairobi,” Ichungwah stated.
