The parliamentary bi-partisan talk between the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja members now faces a bleak future following the back-and-forth dispute between the two camps.
The joint committee has a time frame of 60 days to complete its mandate.
Azimio had initially given a 30-day period but Kenya Kwanza demanded 90 days.
At the heart of the dispute in the latest tussle are two letters addressed to the IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein and IEBC selection panel Nelson Makanda which the Raila Odinga-led camp says their counterparts have refused to co-sign.
“We note that you have not responded to the additional matters raised in the resolutions of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition parliamentary group Meeting forwarded to you,” Committee co-chair Otiende Omollo says in a letter dated May 31.
The demand by the side adds to the long list of issues, a slew of threats, and teething problems the two sides have had since inception and which threatens to stall the intricate process which is left with a month.
During the meeting chaired by Raila, the leaders warned of unspecified action should President William Ruto's side fail to withdraw and replace the proposed Finance Bill, 2023 with a less punitive one, open the election servers, and address the high cost of living.
Moments after Omollo suspended the talks Wednesday, the Kenya Kwanza side led by the co-chair George Murugara wrote back in a bid to salvage the talks calling for a meeting on June 6.
“I have just now invited the co-chair, Hon Otiende Amollo, to a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the draft letters further, with a view to agreeing on the suitable wording and co-signing them,” he said.
But, in a quick rejoinder, Omollo maintains he will not attend the meeting while insisting the talks remain adjourned indefinitely.
“The talks are suspended indefinitely, and I am unavailable for the suggested meeting.”
The letters by Azimio leaders dated May 28 seeks to have the IEBC selection panel suspend the recruitment process for 30 days as the engagement continues.
They further want Marjan to provide information on the preservation of electoral materials and the data contained in the election servers used in the August 2022 election.
But, a defiant Murugara who is also the Tharaka Nithi Senator has said he will not be “used to violate the Constitution” as the reason for failing to co-sign the letters.
He claims the Azimio bipartisan team wants to enjoin them in “committing a fundamental violation of the constitution.”
“Omollo’s letters sent to me last night (May 30) had a few but very fundamental changes which had altered the request to directives of the two independent bodies. This is why I declined to sign the letters. It came to us as a surprise that our colleagues wanted to enjoin us to commit a violation of the very Constitution we seek to defend,” said Murugara.
He notes that IEBC is an independent institution and it cannot be subjected to directions and orders from any person or entity.