Raila to convene urgent parliamentary group meeting over divisive dialogue committee report
Azimio One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga will this week, on Thursday November 30, 2023 convene an urgent meeting this week on Thursday 30, 2023 to deliberate the report by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) amid division amongst the top leadership of the coalition over the high cost of living.
The communication by the Minority Leader and Ugunja legislator Opiyo Wandayi indicated that the Parliamentary Group meeting for the Azimio side will be held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation.
“Members will deliberate on the National Dialogue Committee report with a view of taking a common position.” He said.
The meeting comes as a sharp difference was observed with Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and the DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa distancing themselves from the report with Wamalwa saying that he would not sign the report despite him being a member of the committee.
Raila who received the report on Sunday is yet to make comments on the same with sources indicating that he is intended to moderate the ongoing criticism.
On Sunday Wamalwa said that he would attend the PG meeting.
President Ruto on the other side welcomed the report saying he would implement the recommendations made by the committee.
Yesterday, Karua called on Kenyans to proposals by the bipartisan talk team if it does not impact or talk about lowering the cost of living.
She said that it is wrong for a report that does not impact Kenyans to be passed.
“Any purported agreement that does not immediately impact on the cost of living, electoral justice, and respect for multiparty democracy is a fraud on the people and must be rejected.” Karua stated.
Both the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio camps made proposals on key issues that were part of the talks in which they disclosed failure to hit a deal on taxes, finance Act, and house levy.
“The committee was unable to reach a consensus on a number of other proposals on the matter of the cost of living, including the reduction of VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to 8 per cent and scrapping of the housing levy, the twin issues in the Finance Act, 2023.” The report stated in part.
The Azimio leader had warned that he would not sign the report if the issue of cost of living would not be addressed.
