MPs unite in giving Bomas talks team seal of approval

Members of the National Assembly have approved a motion for the establishment of a national dialogue committee to pave the way for talks between the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and their Azimio la Umoja counterparts.

The motion will give the Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung’wah-led Committee a legal mandate to recommend constitutional and legal reforms after dialogue and consensus reaching.

Moving the motion Ichung’wah, who is the Leader of Majority, expressed his side’s goodwill in ironing the differences on the issues to be canvassed between the rival coalitions.

Seconding the motion, Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi, said the dialogue will settle long-standing differences in the country.

“There are five agenda items we have a brief on, there are also five agenda items Azimio have brought to the table. It is time to listen to each other,” he said.

“It is time to listen to our colleagues on the views they have on the cost of living even though we believe it is the duty of the government of the day to formulate policies that will bring down the cost of living,” Ichung’wah said.

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The National Dialogue Committee will report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions within 60 days and later submit its report to Parliament.

The committee will be assisted by technical teams from both sides.

Communication Secretaries, appointed by the Leader of the Majority and the Leader of the Minority, will provide support.

The committee is free to invite and engage with other stakeholders as well as collate views from the public and engage experts, professionals and other technical resource persons as necessary.

The motion says the 10-member team’s recommendation shall be in line with the Constitution and the laws of Kenya and respect the functional and institutional integrity of State organs.

During a meeting held on Monday, the technical team comprising four members from both sides briefed the press on the expectations of the committee.

“I’m am happy to report that both technical support teams are in. We shall then embark on briefing the team on what we expect of them in support of the dialogue,” Ichung’wah said.

The technical team faces an uphill task of harmonising the committee’s agenda after the two sides presented competing priorities.

Ichung’wah listed a five-point agenda, including the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, the entrenchment of Constituency Development Fund in law, establishment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedding the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary in law.

Azimio, on the other hand, has insisted on the reopening of 2022 presidential election servers, electoral reforms and guarantees on non-interference in the affairs of opposition parties.

Ichung’wah unveiled Muthoni Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Nick Biketi and Duncan Ojwang, as the government’s side technical advisors, after Kalonzo named Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah and ex-Governor Mwangi Wa Iria.

Other than Ichungwah, Kenya Kwanza’s dialogue team members are Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (UDA), Embu Governor and UDA Party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar (UDA) and Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga (Ford-Kenya).

Kalonzo’s delegation includes Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi (ODM), Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi (ODM), Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni (ODM).

The renewed attempt for dialogue follows the collapse of a parliamentary process initiated in April after President William Ruto agreed on talks following a spate of violent opposition protests.

Azimio's side bolted out of talks on the reconstitution of the electoral commission, IEBC, sparking another round of protests over what opposition leader Raila Odinga termed as the high cost of living.