- Rigathi disclosed that non-violence was precondition for talks.
- The DP also commended police in the manner they responded to demos.
Image: PCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has maintained the police will remain on standby despite talks between the government and the opposition.
The country’s second-command on Sunday insisted that unless Azimio committed to non-violence, law enforcers would continue being on standby.
According to Rigathi, the opposition are yet to commit to non-violence.
Speaking when he presided over laying of a chapel foundation at Alliance High School in Kiambu county, the DP disclosed that committing to non-violence was a precondition for mediation.
“Since we have not seen commitment that you denounce violence these police officers are on standby,” Rigathi said.
He however welcomed the talks being spearheaded by ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We welcome talks; we welcome non-violent way of solving issues.”
In two separate statement on Saturday, Azimio and Kenya Kwanza agreed to form a ten-member committee to steer the talks, five from each side.
The two sides however differed on the terms of reference.
They termed it a collective determination to resolve their differences amicably for the benefit of Kenyans.
"The committee shall be seized with the following five issues: reconstitution of IEBC; implementation of two thirds gender rule, entrenchment of constituency development fund, establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary," National Assembly Majority Leader Kiamni Ichung'wah said.
The committee will include four members from outside Parliament, two from each side, leaders of the majority and minority from the National Assembly and four additional Members of Parliament -two from each side.
Rigathi defended police officers who have been accused of using excessive force against unarmed protestors.
The DP said police acted professionally in combating demonstrators who were out to destroy both public and private property.
“The police never went to anybody’s home, you came to the streets to stone them and destroy properties,” he said.
“Those police officers have gone nowhere, they are in the police stations waiting.”
Rigathi was accompanied by, area Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Cabinet secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport), Ezakiel Machogu (Education) and a host of other Kenya Kwanza leaders.
Ichung’wah said the ten-man team will soon embark on the talks that he maintained will focus on the five agenda items.
“As we indicated yesterday (Saturday), with the guidance of party leaders we shall embark on dialogue on the five issues that we have indicated,” he said.
“That is not to say that the cost of living is not an issue, the challenge of cost of living is a global challenge.”
The Kikuyu MP also ruled out any power-sharing arrangement with the Raila team, insisting that the opposition will remain to carry out their oversight role.
“As Kenya Kwanza we are committed to abide by what we have agreed on,” he said.
Elsewhere, ODM national treasurer Timothy Bosire asked the president to first legimise his authority by opening the election servers for audit as demanded by Azimio.
The former Kitutu Masaba MP also challenged Ruto to clean up his administration of elements he said work at variance with nation building.
"That is the way we can work together in building the country together. The way some members of the Cabinet talk as well as the President, they appear to contradict themselves. The President should do away with the fundamentalists in his government and take charge," Bosire said.
Bosire said Ruto's UDA should first declare respect for institutions of democracy and allow multiparty democracy to thrive.
"UDA should first own up to this mess and take the lead to clean up the ground by surrendering Jubilee and UDM to Azimio," Bosire said.
"That is the way we can work together in building the country together.''