Raila-Ruto Talks Agree on Opposition Leader and Prime CS Positions
Following a succession of meetings between the two opposing camps, the National Dialogue Committee agreed to establish the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and opposition leader.
The team, commanded by National Assembly leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Azimio counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka, also reached a consensus on other matters, such as the two-thirds gender rule and party loyalty.
The Office of the Opposition Leader has been the subject of debate in the past, with President William Ruto declaring that he is willing to establish the office through parliament to strengthen the oversight role of the opposition.
Funding for the Constituency Development Fund, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, and the Senate Oversight Fund is the culminating issue.
“Pleased with the tremendously positive strides the Dialogue Committee has made in our noble quest to make Kenya a better nation,” Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who is part of the Kenya Kwanza bipartisan team, said in a statement.
“The meeting with our Technical Teams has reported significant progress by providing an agreeable set of agenda from both teams.”
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He stated that the committee had labored overtime to meet the 60-day deadline imposed by the legislature. Members of Parliament instructed the bipartisan committee to report to President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga within sixty days on August 16, 2023.
Nevertheless, the committee did not reach consensus on several issues, such as the expense of living, the restructuring and reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the audit of the 2022 elections, and the inclusiveness of public appointments, among others.
The Committee has held public hearings with select stakeholders to discuss contentious issues between the two factions, such as the agenda for the IEBC selection panel and the audit of the 2022 General Election.
Among them are the former IEBC commissioners, the IEBC selection committee, and the working group on the two-thirds gender rule.
The committee will provide a comprehensive report by the end of October, following the discussions.
Raila-Ruto Talks Agree on Opposition Leader and Prime CS Positions
