President William Ruto on Wednesday steered clear of politics touching on the impending fresh talks with the Azimio coalition during a press briefing on Agriculture at State House, Nairobi.
The President convened the media briefing the update the country on the interventions the Kenya Kwanza government has taken in Agriculture.
During the question and answer segment, TV47 News anchor Grace Kuria sought to know what interventions the government was taking on water harvesting in light of the El Nino early sign warning.
"And your second question?" the President asked.
"My second question your excellency is ahead of the anticipated talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio...," Kuria said but was quickly interjected by the President.
"Please let's not go there, let's not go there. So, let's stick with the first question," he said.
The government and the opposition side are set to hold fresh talks concerning issues raised by the Azimio coalition under Raila Odinga's leadership.
The President was the first to extend an olive branch to the opposition for dialogue at the height of renewed weekly protests that witnessed chaotic and violent demonstrations from July 19 to 21.
Ruto told Raila in a tweet that he was ready to sit down for talks at the behest of the Opposition chief.
"My friend Raila Odinga, I'm off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent. I'm back tomorrow evening, and as you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience," he said.
Four days later on July 29, both the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza announced that they had agreed to hold the talks under the facilitation of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in their determination to resolve their differences amicably for the benefit of Kenyans.
They said they would each select five persons to represent them on the ten-man committee to iron out the key issues of concern from either side.
Azimio followed it up two days later and on July 31, unveiled its team of mediators led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Azimio said they will respect the issues that the Kenya Kwanza side will raise during the talks and expect them to do the same with their issues.
They said their team of negotiators who include Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, Eugene Wamalwa, Okong'o Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi are under instructions to raise five substantive issues.
These are the cost of living, audit of the 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, inclusivity in national affairs and respect of political parties in line with the Constitution.
"Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise," Azimio said in a statement.
The Kenya Kwanza side had earlier on Saturday, July 29, claimed that they had agreed on four issues.
"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."
The purported joint statement was signed by Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah. Azimio dismissed its contents terming it a one-sided Kenya Kwanza wish list.
"We disown the statement by Ichung'wah. Azimio had nothing to do with it. Its contents were those of Kenya Kwanza, their wish list," Raila said in a statement.
While unveiling their five-member team for the talks, Raila said it was in anticipation for the talks to start on August 1.
The Kenya Kwanza side has, however, remained silent and is yet to unveil the other half of the talks team.
The Star, however, understands that the President held talks with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua on Monday to agree on the list before it is made public.