Parliament Extends Ruto-Raila Talks By 30 Days
The development follows a motion filed by National Assembly leader of Majority Kimani Ichung'wah who also co-chairs of the team on 10 alongside Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
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Members of Parliament have resolved to extend the mandate of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) by 30 days.
The development follows a motion filed by National Assembly leader of Majority Kimani Ichung'wah who also co-chairs of the team on 10 alongside Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
"The Houses of Parliament resolve to extend the mandate of the National Dialogue Committee by a further thirty (30) days from 28th October 2023 and consequently, the Committee shall be required to report to the Leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio Coalitions, on or before 26th November 2023 and thereafter submit its Report to Parliament," MPs stated in part.
Speaker Moses Wetangula addressing the National Assembly. /FILE
This means that in line with the new timelines approved by the National Assembly, the term of the dialogue team will lapse on November 28. The tenure of the committee was anticipated to end on October 28, 2023.
In the motion, Ichung'wah indicated that the extension would allow the bipartisan committee to finalize issues for negotiations and make appropriate policy and legal reforms.
“Conscious that the resolution as passed by both houses of parliament requires the committee to report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition within sixty days from 29 August 2023, recognizing the need for the committee to conclude the consideration of the issue for negotiations, the process of making appropriate policy and legal reforms of the issues framed by the committee, the houses resolve to extend the mandate of the committee by a further 30 days until November 26, 2023,” said Ichung’wah.
The Kikuyu MP however appreciated that the dialogue committee has made progress in the exercise of its mandate and has so far formulated and adopted a framework, adopted a statement of issues, unbundled the issues, and agreed on the prioritization of the issues.
Ichung'wah also noted that the NADCO committee conducted public participation and stakeholder engagement in line with the requirements of the constitution and analyzed the memoranda that were submitted.
In the new proposals, the team will be mandated to inform President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of their recommendations by November 26, 2023.
The anticipated policy and legal reforms cover electoral justice, outstanding constitutional matters, fidelity to political parties, and entrenchment of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Other proposals will touch on the Senate Oversight Fund and establishment of state offices including the office of the opposition leader.
So far, the team agreed to create the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition. The establishment of the office, which Azimio leader Raila Odinga is expected to spearhead, was one of the deliberations of the ongoing bipartisan talks, revisiting previous proposals seeking to entrench the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Constitution.
The team also agreed to embed the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, in this case, Musalia Mudavadi.
The bipartisan team also agreed on entrenchment into the constitution of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund, and Senate Oversight Fund.
NADCO also agreed on the two-thirds gender rule and fidelity to political parties.
