- National Dialogue Committee may invite, engage with and consider submissions from stakeholders.
- Speakers and Clerks of both Houses of Parliament shall provide the secretariat.
Image: KEITH MUSEKE
The National Dialogue Committee will have its work cut out after it is legally established by Parliament.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Minority counterpart Opiyo Wandayi have already given a Notice of Motion to anchor the team in law.
The mandate of the NDC shall be to facilitate dialogue and consensus building and recommend appropriate constitutional, legal and policy reforms on issues of concern to the people of Kenya.
The team shall determine its own rules of procedures to guide execution of mandate.
The recommendations, however, are expected to be in line with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Kenya and respecting 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 noted.
The committee shall formulate and adopt a Framework Agreement to guide the bi-partisan talks.
The team shall report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza (President William Ruto) and Azimio leader (Opposition leader Raila Odinga) within 60 days and after that, submit its report to Parliament.
In the execution of its mandate, the NDC may invite, engage with and consider submissions from stakeholders, collate views from the public and engage experts, professionals and other technical resource persons as necessary.
Speakers and Clerks of both Houses of Parliament shall provide secretariat and any other necessary support to facilitate the work of the NDC.
Ichung’wah told the House there have been previous calls and attempts at building consensus on issues of concern to the people of Kenya through bipartisan engagements in Parliament.
Ichung’wah noted that despite the constitutional and legal reforms on the electoral processes and the electoral laws, after every election cycle, there has been mistrust of electoral outcomes, leaving the country divided.
He added that efforts to enhance constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for human rights need to be promoted.
The committee shall comprise Ichungw’ah (delegation leader), Cecily Mbarire (deputy delegation leader), Aaron Cheruiyot, Omar Hassan Omar and Catherine Wambilianga to represent Kenya Kwanza.
The Azimio team will be led by Kalonzo Musyoka (delegation leader), Opiyo Wandayi (deputy delegation leader), Amina Mnyazi, Eugene Wamalwa and Okong’o Mogeni.
Technical teams representing Kenya Kwanza and Azimio shall support the National Dialogue Committee.
The technical team representing Kenya Kwanza comprises Muthomi Thiankolu, Linda Musumba, Duncan Ojwang and Nick Biketi.
The technical team representing Azimio shall comprise Jeremiah Kioni, Adams Oloo, Abubakar Zein Abubakar and Lynn Ngugi.
The NDC shall be assisted by two officers designated as Communication Secretaries, one of whom shall be appointed by the Leader of Majority Party and the other by the Leader of Minority Party.