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MPs extend mandate of National Dialogue Committee by another month

Members of the National Dialogue Committee after one of the bi-partisan committee meetings at the Bomas of Kenya. (Photo: X/Kimani Ichung'wa)

By Dennis Tarus | Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The bipartisan committee drawn from both the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions have already reached a consensus on the creation of the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition and that of the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition.

The National Assembly has made a pivotal decision to extend the National Dialogue Committee's mandate by an additional 30 days, allowing the committee to finalize its comprehensive report on five crucial thematic issues.

Representing a blend of the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions, the bipartisan committee has already made significant headway, finding common ground on essential matters such as the establishment of the Office of the Official Leader of the Opposition and the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

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In addition to these milestones, the committee is diligently addressing other pressing issues. Key topics under deliberation include the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, and the institutionalization of the Constituency Development Fund.

Furthermore, the committee is carefully examining the intricate dynamics related to the cost of living, the audit of the 2022 presidential election results, as well as the crucial aspects of inclusivity and fidelity within opposition political parties.

In a recent development, the National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung'wah, presented a motion advocating for the extension of the committee's duration by an additional month. This strategic move underscores the Assembly's commitment to fostering comprehensive dialogue and effective solutions for the nation's pressing concerns.

The co-chairs of the National Dialogue Committee Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung'wa during one of the bi-partisan committee meetings. (Photo: X/Kimani Ichung'wa)

The National Dialogue Committee was instituted by Parliament via a Resolution ratified by both the National Assembly on August 16, 2023, and the Senate on August 29, 2023.

The primary responsibility of the Committee encompasses the facilitation of constructive dialogue, fostering consensus building, and proposing relevant constitutional, legal, and policy reforms on matters of significant importance to the Kenyan populace.

Under the current resolution, the Committee is tasked with presenting its findings to the leadership of the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio Coalitions no later than November 26, 2023, followed by the submission of its comprehensive report to the Parliament.