Kenya’s government and opposition will form a committee to settle their disagreements, senior officials from both parties announced on Saturday, following a series of opposition rallies over rising living costs and tax rises.
Earlier this month, the opposition alliance Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) staged a series of rallies, producing considerable disruption and, in some cases, violent clashes with police in which more than two dozen people were murdered and hundreds were injured.
Separate releases from Azimio and the governing coalition Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) confirmed the meetings.
Kimani Ichung’wah, Kenya Kwanza’s parliamentary majority leader, said in a statement that the negotiations will focus on the composition of Kenya’s election commission and the establishment of an office for the opposition leader, among other things.
According to the statement, the discussions will not include recent tax changes because they are already being litigated in court. On Friday, an appeals court lifted a stay on a measure that would double the value-added tax on gasoline and impose a new housing fee.
The court stated that the suspension might be lifted subject to further appeals, which must be lodged within 14 days. A related lawsuit against the statute is also ongoing.
Opiyo Wandayi, the Azimio la Umoja coalition’s minority leader in parliament, whose name appeared on the joint statement, did not sign it. He released a supplementary statement on Azimio’s behalf, acknowledging the creation of the team for negotiations but providing no other specifics.
The court stated that the suspension might be lifted subject to further appeals, which must be lodged within 14 days. A related lawsuit against the statute is also ongoing.
President William Ruto stated earlier this week that he would be willing to meet with Azimio leader Raila Odinga. Ruto has previously stated that he would not engage in a power-sharing arrangement with Odinga, and Odinga has also stated that he is not interested in such a pact.
