Audit of 2022 election results to top bipartisan dialogue agenda

A section of the National Dialogues Committee members after a sitting at the Bomas of Kenya. [Dennis Kavisu, Standard]

The government and the opposition have prioritised the reconstitution of the electoral commission, audit of last year’s presidential election and boundaries delimitation in the talks which kicked off Friday.

The National Dialogue Committee (NDC), which officially started discussions Friday, said outstanding constitutional matters, such as the cost of living, the two-thirds gender principle, unity and inclusivity as well as adequate checks and balances, would be second in its priorities.

The NDC has listed fidelity to political parties as third in line, with the entrenchment of development, affirmative action and oversight funds in the Constitution as fourth in its priority.

Both sides agreed to deal with the establishment of the leader of the Official Opposition and the entrenchment of the prime cabinet secretary’s office as the last issue.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who co-chairs the NDC with Azimio principal and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, revealed they had written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission selection panel “to take judicial notice of the issue they are handling that we are also handling”.

“We have concurrently also written to the multi-sectoral working group on the realisation of the two-thirds gender rule,” the Kikuyu lawmaker stated, adding that they had requested to engage with both teams.

The Nelson Makanda-led IEBC selection panel has already commenced the recruitment of all seven IEBC commissioners.

Optimism

At the same time, Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa recently appointed a 23-member task force to steer the realisation of the gender parity principle.

There was public uproar following the appointment of the members of the task force because there was only man.

Kalonzo called on the public to submit their memoranda, stating that should be limited to the NDC’s five agenda items.

“The time is now. Our work is cut out. We expect that you now take your responsibility and give your memoranda,” said the Wiper leader, who expressed optimism in the talks.

Kenyans have until Friday to submit their views ahead of the resumption of talks on September 11. 

Ichung’wah said the one-week break would allow the NDC’s technical committee to work on the memoranda and the talks’ agenda. He also stated they were taking a break because of next week’s Africa Climate Summit that Kenya will host.

In a notice published in local dailies yesterday, the public was invited to submit written and, subsequently, oral memoranda to the NDC on its five agenda items.

“Article 10 of the Constitution espouses the national values and principles of governance, which include participation of the people. Pursuant to Article 10 of the Constitution, the committee is required to engage with and consider submissions from stakeholders, collate views from the public and engage experts, professionals and other technical resource persons as necessary,” the notice by Kalonzo and Ichung’wa read in part. 

NDC’s agenda heavily mirrors that of the Building Bridges Initiative, whose constitutional amendment push was thwarted by the courts.

Among the similar agenda items for the talks set to last 60 days include electoral justice, the creation of a prime position in Cabinet and boundary delimitation, which the courts asserted was a function of the IEBC.

Yielded to demands

The talking points are a win-win for President William Ruto and his rival Raila Odinga, given both had their way of pushing their respective issues.

After months of playing the hardliner, Ruto yielded to demands to have an audit of last year’s presidential polls and the cost of living included in the agenda. Both items were pushed by Raila’s Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya.

On the other hand, the president’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance scored as their issues mirror the memorandum he issued to Parliament last year, which included entrenching the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

Both teams are optimistic that the current talks will bear fruit despite opposition, mostly from the Kenya Kwanza side.

Previous discussions by the bipartisan committee co-chaired by MPs Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Gitonga Murugara (Tharaka) flopped.

Kenya Kwanza’s representatives in the current team are Ichung’wah, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Bungoma Woman Representative Catherine Wmbilianga and East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Hassan Omar.

Azimio’s team comprises Kalonzo, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.