Bipartisan team gets 30 more days for talks

Peter Ochieng

Members of the national dialogue committee now have 30 more days to hold their sittings.

The Kimani Ichung’wah and Kalonzo Musyoka-led bipartisan talks team was initially expected to submit a report before both the national assembly and senate by end of October, 2023.

But now, Parliament has extended the mandate of the team as communicated by Ichung’wah, the Kikuyu MP and majority leader in the national assembly.

But speaking on Tuesday, Ichung’wah who is the Kikuyu MP and leader of majority in the national assembly said the committee needs more time, for proper conclusion of its mandate.

The ten-member team’s mandate has been extended by 30 days from October 28 to November 28, 2023.

“The houses of Parliament resolve to extend the mandate of the national dialogue committee by a further 30 days from 28th October 2023,” the majority leader said on Tuesday.

“Consequently, the committee shall be required to report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions on or before 26th November 2023 and thereafter submit a report to Parliament.”

He added that their sittings have since seen them achieve various milestones.

"Other milestones achieved by the committee have unbundled the issues, agreed on prioritisation of issues, harmonised the issues, conducted public participation and stakeholder engagement in line with the requirements of article 10 of the constitution and examine and analyse them and what were received.”

October 3rd, 2023 was the last day of oral submissions to the national dialogue committee at the Bomas of Kenya. Musyoka said the day was exceptional.

“The last day of oral submissions to the national dialogue committee at the Bomas of Kenya was exceptional. That Kenyans via stakeholder groups, civil and religious organisations engaged in this process earnestly, is indeed a true reflection of the current state of affairs in our beloved Nation. Kenyans want to be heard and respected,” he said.

He thanked Kenyans for trusting the bipartisan process.