Confusion mars dialogue committee report as leaders differ on recommendations

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report which was unveiled on Saturday by co-chairs Kimani Ichung'wah and Kalonzo Musyoka.

Leaders from both the two major coalitions - Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja - appear to be reading from different scripts as the report now heads to their principals President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga ahead of its proposed implementation.

On Sunday, Ruto appeared to give the nod for the report as he assured Kenyans that recommendations by

the bipartisan dialogue team will be implemented terming it as ‘good’ for the country.

"I want to congratulate all the teams that have come up with the recommendations. I have seen the recommendations and they are good. All the recommendations are practical...we are going to work on them to reduce in areas they have recommended," Ruto said during a church service in Roysambu, Nairobi.

“For instance, in the report, there is a recommendation that travel be cut by 50 per cent and that’s what I have

already done.”

Raila on Sunday confirmed he had received the report but was, however, yet to go through it. The Azimio leader promised to give his comments once he had read it.

Kalonzo while unveiling the report said that the report has addressed the issues that formed the basis of the talks and the recommendations.

"The report will progressively heal our wounds, foster togetherness, promote national unity restore our national pride, and usher us to greater prosperity," he said.

Dissenting voices

However, as the President gave the report a green light, DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, who was a member of the dialogue team, voiced his dissent over the committee's report, insisting the issue of cost of living was not thoroughly addressed.

“I didn’t and will not append my signature to the NADCO report and have not and will not accept any sitting allowance for the same because I believe we did not do justice to the single most important issue to Kenyans; the cost of living,” Wamalwa said on Sunday in Busia.

The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) co-chairs Kalonzo Musyoka of the Azimio Coalition and Kimani Ichung'wah of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition during the unveiling of the report on 25 November 2023. (Photo: X/Kimani Ichung'wah)

Wamalwa was supported by Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua who also gave the report a cold shoulder.

"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 on Sunday.

However, Ichung’wah called out Wamalawa over his remarks saying he had been present until Friday when he excused himself claiming that he was set to travel out of the country.

The National Assembly Majority leader claimed Wamalwa gave his blessings to other Azimio members of the team to proceed with the release of the report and even promised to append his signature once he returned.

“This one left on Friday ahead of the conclusion of the talks claiming he was travelling to Kinshasa and left his blessings to the rest of their team saying he would sign when back,” Ichung’wah claimed.

Recommendations

NADCO in its report recommended the return of the twin offices of the Prime Minister and the Leader of Official Opposition.

However, the committee failed to reach a consensus on the scrapping of the Housing Levy and reversing the standard rating of VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to eight per cent.

While unveiling the final report of its deliberations, the committee said there was divergent opinion regarding the two issues which were effected under the Finance Act 2023 and that the matters would be referred to the leadership of the two Kenya Kwanza and Azimio for further consideration.

However, under the contentious matter of the cost of living, the committee agreed that all arms of government shall reduce their travel budgets by 50 per cent and that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) review Daily Subsistence Allowances for state and public officers with a view of reducing by 30 per cent.

NADCO 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 Sh5 and Sh3 respectively.

The committee recommended the national government finalise the transfer of all devolved functions to the county governments.

It also recommended the amendment of the Constitution to provide for the equitable share to county governments not to be less than 20 per cent of all revenue collected by the national government from the current 15 per cent.