The National Assembly has laid process of sanitising the post-2022 election negotiation between the opposition and the president William Ruto’s led Kenya Kwanza administration after they approved the establishment of a national dialogue committee to address areas of national interest.
In what is reminiscent of the rejected Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) championed by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta and then who is also the current opposition leader Raila Odinga, in the motion moved by the Majority Leader Kiamni Ichung’wah and co-sponsored by his Minority counterpart Opiyo Wandayi on Tuesday, it stipulates the terms for talks that will run for next 60 days as stipulated in the motion.
The bi-partisan talks will address issues that have led to the contestation of the 2022 presidential election as well as other issues listed by the Kenya Kwanza and the Azimio One Kenya Coalition.
The approve motion also provides legal anchorage for the creation of more seats including that of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and regularising the Prime Cabinet Secretary post held by Musalia Mudavadi which has since been challenged in court as illegal.
The two camps say the talks will not be about power sharing but will be centered on issues that matter the most to Kenyans, such as the cost of living.
The development comes after Ichung’wah and Wandayi officially submitted a motion seeking to legalize the talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza on Tuesday.
Key among them is when the new bipartisan team will finalise its report it will submit to the leaders of Azimio and Kenya Kwanza as well as Parliament for adoption.
Moreover, the committee has resolved to receive memorandums from the public, professional bodies and non-governmental organization for review and consideration.
Attorney General Justin Muturi has maintained that whatever the two parties will agree upon his office will consider their resolutions keenly and ensure they remain within the boundaries of the constitution.
Yesterday, the National Assembly debated and subsequently adopted the motion while their Senate counterparts were called for a special sitting on Tuesday next week to allow the National Dialogue Committee to begin handling the substantive agenda for the talks. Nation has established that there was a lot of pressure from the international community for the rival camps to resolve the standoff.
“The Houses of Parliament resolves that the two Houses of Parliament establish a National Dialogue Committee consisting of 10 members to represent the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, a coalition constituting the majority party … and Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, a coalition forming the minority party,” the motion states. It adds: “That the National Dialogue Committee shall report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions within 60 days and after that, submit its report to Parliament.”
Among the five key agendas the opposition leader Raila Oding’s led team has presented include the high cost of living, audit of the 2022 presidential election results, restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and related matters and measures to prevent interference with political parties.
Kenya Kwanza on the other hand listed a five-point agenda excluding the cost of living, a matter said the government was competent enough to address.
The issues are the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of 2/3 gender rule, entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund (CDF), establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary.
The reconstituted by-partisan talks spearheaded by House Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and former Vice President and Azimio co-principal who is also Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are set to kick-off tomorrow following the appointment of technical teams by both sides.
Last week, Ichung’wah named Kenya Kwanza’s 4-member technical team comprising of Muthoni Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang as a follow-up to an inaugural meeting held at Nairobi’s Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday last week.
Ichung’wah who is leading the president William Ruto’s team said the technical team will play a key role in backing the government delegation.
“This team will play a pivotal role in supporting our delegation throughout the ongoing dialogue engagement. Their expertise will be of high value in shaping the conversation.” He noted.
“Kenya Kwanza remains firmly committed to open and productive dialogue and reaffirms that we will engage in the talks with utmost good faith and firm commitment to our Constitution and the Laws of Kenya.” He added.
Kalonzo listed beleaguered Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, roots party leader George Wajackoyah and ex-governor Mwangi Wa Iria as members of his technical team.
“The four will work with the Azimio delegation to provide insights, skills, guidance and expertise necessary for a speedy realization of the objectives of the dialogue. We want all Kenyans to understand that engaging in honest dialogue does not amount to surrender or cowardice.” Azimio said in a statement last week.
