Bipartisan Team Executing the Ruto-Raila Mandate: Explained
The National Dialogue Committee will have a lot of work to do once it has been legally established by the legislature.
The Majority Leader of the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, and the Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi, have already filed a Notice of Motion to anchor the team in law.
The NDC shall be charged with facilitating dialogue and consensus-building and recommending constitutional, legal, and policy reforms on matters of concern to the Kenyan people.
The team will establish its own procedures to assist in the execution of its mandate.
However, it is expected that the recommendations will be consistent with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kenya and will respect the functional and institutional integrity of state organs.
“The Majority Party in Parliament and the Minority Party in Parliament have agreed to embrace dialogue through the establishment of a National Dialogue Committee to recommend a way forward on issues of concern to the people of Kenya,” Ichung’wah stated.
The committee will develop and ratify a Framework Agreement to guide bipartisan negotiations.
The committee is required to report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza (President William Ruto) and Azimio (Opposition leader Raila Odinga) within sixty days, and then submit its findings to Parliament.
In the execution of its mandate, the NDC may invite, engage, and consider submissions from stakeholders, compile public opinion, and engage experts, professionals, and other technical resource persons as required.
The Speakers and Clerks of both Houses of Parliament shall provide the secretariat and any other support necessary to facilitate the NDC’s work.
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Ichung’wah informed the House that there have been previous calls and attempts to establish consensus on issues of concern to the Kenyan people through bipartisan engagements in the Kenyan Parliament.
Ichung’wah remarked that despite constitutional and legal reforms in the electoral processes and electoral laws, distrust of election results persists after each election cycle, dividing the nation.
Promote efforts to strengthen constitutionalism, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, he added.
To represent Kenya Kwanza, the committee will consist of Ichungw’ah (delegation leader), Cecily Mbarire (vice-delegation leader), Aaron Cheruiyot, Omar Hassan Omar, and Catherine Wambilianga.
Kalonzo Musyoka (delegation leader), Opiyo Wandayi (deputy delegation leader), Amina Mnyazi, Eugene Wamalwa, and Okong’o Mogeni will manage the Azimio team.
The National Dialogue Committee is supported by technical teams representing Kenya Kwanza and Azimio.
Muthomi Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Duncan Ojwang, and Nick Biketi comprise the technical team representing Kenya Kwanza.
The Azimio technical team will consist of Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, Abubakar Zein Abubakar, and Lynn Ngugi.
One of the Communication Secretaries will be appointed by the Leader of the Majority Party and the other by the Leader of the Minority Party.
Bipartisan Team Executing the Ruto-Raila Mandate: Explained
