A file photo of Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot.

Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has dismissed the ongoing bipartisan talks between leaders from the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance and the opposition Azimio la Umoja coalition as a waste of time.

Aukot told Citizen TV's Day Break program on Tuesday that the dialogue, which was called by the opposition to iron out issues they have with the government, is proof that President Ruto is not confident he rightfully won the 2022 General Election.

“The problem with these talks is that they are a waste of time and resources, but it also in a way confirms that President William Ruto isn’t confident that he actually won the election fairly. If he did, and I believe he did, why is he entertaining a conversation with someone who lost?” Aukot posed.

Azimio, among other things, wants a reduction in the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 General Election servers, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, as well as its inclusion in national affairs and what he describes as respect for political parties.

But the Third Way Alliance leader sees it as a reduction of the nation’s discourse to two people; President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

“This conversation on this country is being reduced to Raila and Ruto yet Kenya belongs to more than 50 million people,” he said.

“If I were President Ruto, I would tell the opposition that if they have a problem with my leadership, they need to go through Parliament and file a motion of censure or impeachment.”

Aukot accused Azimio of running away from discussing pertinent issues Kenyans are facing such as the Finance Bill which was recently passed into law, and instead resorting to politicking.

Over nine Azimio MPs did not vote in June on the contentious bill that has increased taxation, with some even out of the country attending parliamentary trips abroad.

So far, the dialogue team has arrived at a five-point agenda of deliberation; Outstanding Constitutional matters; Electoral justice and related matters; Entrenching funds into the Constitution; Establishment and entrenchment of State offices; and Fidelity to Political Parties/Coalitions and the law on multiparty democracy.

Even so, Azimio has said they will take another move if the bipartisan talks seem unpromising.

Odinga and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Sunday said the opposition will not waste time in dialogue without signs their issues will be addressed.

“Before we talk of 2027, we must settle 2022 and that is why we have the bipartisan talks. We want to settle election injustice,” Musyoka, who is leading the Azimio delegation in the talks, told a roadside rally in Magena Town, Kisii County.

“Raila amesema tuwaangalie kwa macho kwa ile kikao na kama hawana haja then we shall think otherwise. We can't waste time.”

Odinga said they stopped anti-government protests to give the government a chance through dialogue but if President William Ruto’s administration will not cooperate, they will not hesitate to announce another way of airing their grievances.

“Sisi tunakubali mazungumzo, ndio maana tumeweka Kalonzo hapo. Tutawapa nafasi vizuri ili wazungumze na wakileta nyokonyoko si mko tayari?” posed the former Prime Minister who holds his presidential victory in last year's polls was stolen from him by Dr Ruto.

Odinga has previously threatened the return of street demonstrations if the talks are not fruitful. The recent round of demos left over 20 people dead.

Previous talks in April and May broke down as both sides accused each other of sabotage. By Dennis Musau, Citizen Digital