National Dialogue Committee spearheading talks between President William Ruto and Azimio boss Raila Odinga on Thursday met National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to discuss funding of the team.
Sources told the Star that the meeting at Speaker's boardroom was a follow-up to a similar request made last week.
"We basically discussed the budget because Parliament is supposed to finance our operations," the source told the Star.
The meeting which lasted slightly under two hours was attended by Wetang'ula, NDC co-chairs Kimani Ichungwah and Kalonzo Musyoka, Opiyo Wandayi and EALA MP Hassan Omar.
Also at the afternoon meeting were a host of technical Committee members.
According to the source, the meeting okayed release of funds to facilitate the operations of the committee.
He however did not indicate the amount.
"The Speaker has also agreed to second 15 members of staff to serve in our secretariat," the source said.
The meeting which lasted approximately one hour was attended by among others the leader of the majority Kimani Ichungwa, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi and EALA MP Hassan Omar.
Kalonzo was seen entering parliament buildings at around 11:30am and shook hands with a few of the parliamentarians around before heading straight to the speaker’s office.
According to sources, the bipartisan committee has been concerned over the lack of funding to enable them to complete the task they set out to accomplish and slowing down their activities.
Despite both houses of parliament passing a motion to anchor the bipartisan committee in the law, there were no funds set aside by the parliamentary commission to enable the committee to achieve its mandate.
According to the source, the committee wanted to prevail upon the speaker to set aside a budget for the committee although it is not yet known how much it will cost the Kenyan taxpayers.
The technical committee was set to meet today and on Friday to go through 142 memoranda before the bipartisan committee meets on Monday to deliberate on the agreed-upon agenda.
The meeting with the speaker comes amid growing claims that the talks were being frustrated by one wing of the coalition, with Azimio one Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga expected to issue a major announcement on the way forward.
The talks team had planned to complete their task within 60 days although two weeks have elapsed without much being accomplished.
