Any Agreement That Doesn’t Impact Cost Of Living Must Be Rejected, Karua Says After NADCO Report
Azimio la Umoja principal Martha Karua has warned that she will reject the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report if it does not address issues of cost of living, electoral justice, and respect for multiparty democracy.
In a social media post, Karua appeared to fault the committee’s report released on Saturday.
“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 said.
Karua’s sentiments come after the committee admitted in the report that it was “unable to reach a consensus on several other proposals on the matter of the 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.”
On the cost of living, NADCO recommended that all arms of government reduce their travel budgets by 50% and SRC review Daily Subsistence Allowances for State and Public Officers to reduce by 30%.
The committee also recommended the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in liaison with the National Treasury to reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh.5 and Ksh.3 per liter respectively.
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On electoral justice and related matters, NADCO recommended evaluation of the 2022 electoral process, the establishment of an expanded IEBC selection panel from the current 7-member to 9-member, increase of timelines within which the Supreme Court shall hear and determine a petition challenging the validity of a presidential election from 14 to 21 days, and legal reforms passed less than 18 months to the general elections become effective in the next electoral cycle.
Before the release of the report, Karua had warned that NARC Kenya will return to the streets if the NADCO fails to yield desirable results.
The Azimio co-principal urged Kenyans to assert their civil, political, and human rights fully, stating that even in the face of potential adversity during protests, they won’t compromise their rights.
“Even if we are transported to heaven through killings during demonstrations, NARC Kenya and the people of Kenya are saying that should the talks fail us because they look like they are failing, we shall not forgo our rights, and we shall go back to the streets if necessary,” she stated.
Any Agreement That Doesn’t Impact Cost Of Living Must Be Rejected, Karua Says After NADCO Report
