NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 1 – National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has castigated Former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa for poking holes in the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO)report based on lack of goodwill.
In a thinly veiled attack, Ichung’wah scoffed at the DAP-K Party leader accusing him of hypocrisy on the NADCO implementation discussion as he failed to sign the final report by the dialogue committee.
“That report will be implemented as we passed it in Parliament. Someone like Wamalwa who refused to sign saying there’s no goodwill in NADCO implementation,” he stated.
“We have the goodwill to pass the NADCO report. We have published all the bills encompassing the report. So, Kalonzo shouldn’t worry that the report will not be passed.”
The NADCO report was endorsed by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka (Azimio) and Ichung’wah (Kenya Kwanza Coalition) on behalf of the two coalitions.
The Kikuyu Lawmaker defended the Kenya Kwanza Administration for alleviating the high cost of living which was among the sticky issues that the two opposing sides in NADCO team failed to reach a consensus on.
He sated that President William Ruto’s administration has shown commitment to addressing the high cost of living by reducing of prices of key household commodities.
“Wamalwa refused to sign the report saying the high cost of living hadn’t been addressed. President Ruto and CS Linturi have given us subsidized fertilizer and now the prices of flour range between Sh103 to Sh120 downwards from Sh210,” Ichung’wah said.
The Majority Leader pointed out that legal battles that might hijack the implementation of the NADCO should not be linked to lack of goodwill by the ruling coalition.
“If the court has stopped the implementation of any section of the NADCO report. That has nothing to do with the Kenya Kwanza government,” he said. “Since we respect the independence of judiciary, we shall face all challenges that have been raised by the court in the right channel of the courts.”
MPs are facing a time crunch as they grapple with a deadline to deliberate on nine bills aimed at solidifying the recommendations of the NADCO into law.
The National Assembly will review a series of legislative proposals, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Leader of Opposition Bill, 2024, and the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Senate will tackle the Elections Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs and the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights (JLAC) have been instructed to hold joint sittings per the standing orders of both houses.
Key proposals in the report include the overhaul and restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The NADCO report suggests expanding the selection panel from seven to nine members.
Additionally, the report calls for an evaluation of the 2022 electoral process, a matter advocated strongly by the Opposition.
MPs will also debate the establishment of the office of Leader of the Opposition, with NADCO proposing that the office be held by the second runner-up in elections.
Other recommendations focus on the establishment and consolidation of state offices, adherence to multi-party democracy laws, electoral justice, and the inclusion of funds supervised by Members of Parliament in the constitution.
