Editor's Review

"President Ruto's team must have an open mind towards a handshake and mkate nusu," Justina Wamae. 

Former Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae now says President William Ruto's team unveiled to dialogue with Azimio needs to have an open mind towards handshake.    

In a statement via Facebook on Thursday, August 3, Wamae claimed it was time for payback on grounds that it was Ruto who pushed Raila Odinga to get nusu mkate Government in former President Mwai Kibaki's government.   

"President Ruto's team must have an open mind towards a handshake, mkate nusu and everything in between.

"Reason being in 2007 Ruto pushed Raila to get nusu mkate in Kibaki's administration it's time for payback; Raila to get mkate nusu in Ruto's administration," she said. 

Wamae added," Not for anything else but for the ordinary Kenyan whose bills are not paid for by GoK to continue surviving and looking for our daily bread uninterrupted." 

This comes hours after the Kenya Kwanza team unveiled its five members who will dialogue with the Azimio team in the bipartisan talks. 

File image of Kimani Ichung'wah.

The Kenya Kwanza team will be led by Kimani Ichung'wah and the rest of the team consist of Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar, and Bungoma Women Rep Catherine Wambilianga to the dialogue committee.

While unveiling the team, Kenya Kwanza affirmed that they would not discuss anything to do with matters handshake.  

“As agreed, there shall be no discussion of whatever nature on matters handshake or nusu mkate,” Kenya Kwanza stated. 

On the other hand, the Azimio team will be led by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and will include Opiyo Wandayi, Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni, and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.

According to the opposition coalition, the main issues to be discussed in the talks are; the high cost of living, audit of 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of IEBC, inclusivity in national affairs, and respect for political parties in line with the constitution.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo will facilitate the talks between the two coalitions.