In Summary

• Kihika spoke up against any attempts to divert the bipartisan talks into a formula to create a handshake government.

• Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also hit out at the Azimio leader over the demands.

 

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has lashed out at Azimio leader Raila Odinga for calling for dialogue similar to the 2008 National Accord talks.

Kihika revealed her disagreement with the Opposition's demand in a tweet on Wednesday.

“Hii nayo apana! Here we draw the line. No nusu mkate (whatever they want to baptize it) No Handshake! No Grand Coalition! No Cooperation! Issa resounding NO!!!,” she tweeted. 

Raila on Tuesday, said the bipartisan talks focusing on a parliamentary approach will not achieve much and called for talks similar to those led by the former UN Secretary-General Koffi Anan in 2008.

"It is the resolution of this meeting that a purely Parliamentary process will not serve the intended end, our suggestion is to have a conversation at the national level through a process akin to the 2008 National Accord," the statement reads in part.

Kihika's statement comes amid similar opposition by top members of the Kenya Kwanza government.

UDA party secretary general Cleophas Malala rubbished the fresh demands as 'unworkable' and warned Raila not to mistake the President's Olive Branch as a sign of cowardice.

"We want to categorically state that, we as a party, shall not accept any process that is outside the purview of the constitution or offends the law as established," Malala said.

"We call upon Raila to recognise that there is a legitimate government delivering the promises made to the electorate and implementing its pre-election agenda.”

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also hit out at the Azimio leader over the demands. 

"Raila Odinga is an exposed man desperate for power at whatever cost. How does he equate the current situation to the 2007-08 period and ask for power-sharing under a National Accord arrangement? Mr Odinga, you lost the election," he said. By COLLINS SHADRACK, The Star