NADCO rec*mmends evaluation of 2022 polls as team fails to agree on key cost of living issues

The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) on Saturday unveiled the final report with key recommendations.

The report signed by NADCO co-chairs Kalonzo Musyoka of the Azimio la Umoja -One Kenya Coalition and Kimani Ichung'wah of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition had various recommendations and proposals.

Below are some of the recommendations

On matters of elections, the committee focused on four major issues and issued recommendations.

1. Audit of the 2022 Presidential Election

a. Restructuring and reconstitution of the IEBC

NADCO recommended the reconstitution of the IEBC selection panel to be increased to nine members from the seven which was proposed by President William Ruto.

The committee recommended the appointment of a panel of experts to evaluate the 2022 electoral process as well as a mechanism to evaluate future elections.

c. Electoral Legal Reforms

NADCO recommended that legal reforms that have been passed 18 months before the general elections become effective in the next election.

d. Time for Resolution of Presidential Election Petitions

NADCO recommends the increase of timelines within which the Supreme Court will hear and determine a petition challenging presidential elections from 14 to 21 days.

2. Establishment and entrenchment of state offices

Similarly, the committee recommended the establishment of State Offices such as the office of the leader of the opposition and the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

NADCO stated that the prime minister will be nominated and appointed by the president upon approval by the National Assembly.

3. Cost of living

In matters of cost of living, NADCO indicated that the committee was unable to reach a consensus on the reduction of VAT of fuel from 16 percent to 8 percent, and scrapping of the housing levy.

"The committee was unable to reach a consensus on a number of other proposals on the matter of cost of living, including the reduction of VAT on fuel from 16% to 8%, and scrapping of the housing levy, the twin issues in the Finance Act 2023," the report said.

However, the team recommended four measures to address the cost of living.

The first recommendation pinpointed was that all arms of government will reduce their travel budget by 50 percent and that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission review Daily Subsistence Allowances for State and Public Officers be reduced by 30 per cent.

The committee also recommended that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in liaison with the national Treasury reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh5 and Ksh3 per litre respectively.

Similarly, the committee recommended that the National Government finalize the transfer of all devolved functions and provide for the concomitant resources to the county governments.

Further, NADCO recommended that the parliament amends the Constitution to provide for the equitable share to the County Governments not to be less than 20 per cent of all revenue collected by the National Government from the current 15 per cent.

4. Entrenching funds into constitution

The committee recommended the entrenchment of NG-CDF, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund as well as the Ward Development Fund which will be established by statute.

5. Fidelity to the law on multiparty democracy

Further, the committee recommended the establishment of the Independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission as an independent body.

NADCO said the commission will be responsible for the registration of political parties and their office holder. The commission will also manage political parties' funds.