National Dialogue: Senate to meet on Tuesday to approve establishment of committee

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has gazetted a special sitting on Tuesday, August 29, to approve the establishment of the National Dialogue Committee.

In the Gazette notice dated August 25, Kingi stated that the sitting will take place from 9.30 am at the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

"Notice is given to all Senators that pursuant to Standing Order 33 (1) of the Senate Standing orders, on the request of the Senate Majority Leader, I have appointed Tuesday, August 29, 2023 as the day for a special sitting of the Senate," the notice read in part.

Senators will also discuss an array of other issues including the nomination of Andrew Mukite Musangi as the Chairperson of the Board of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), for appointment.

At the same time, Kingi added that the Senators will also be briefed on the passage by the National Assembly of the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill 2023.

Also top on the list during the special sitting is the consideration of the Public Finance Management (Amendment Bill, 2023).

"The business specified in this Notice shall be the only business before the Senate during the special sitting, following which the Senate shall stand adjourned until Tuesday, September 5, at 2:30pm," the Speaker stated.

The sitting will come four days after the National Dialogue Committee resumes the bipartisan talks set for today, Friday.

In a meeting on Monday, August 21, the committee members postponed the talks in order to give the technical team some time to iron out arising issues.

“The two technical teams representing both sides have continued to engage on the issue of framework agreement and framing of issues. We have agreed that we continue with the work and the technical teams will meet before the whole committee will reconvene again on Friday at 10 am,” said National Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi.

Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who is chairing the Kenya Kwanza team said that the committee shall begin its 60 days of working once the motion is passed before Senate.

This is the second round of the talks, after the first round collapsed following failure by Kenya Kwanza to honor demands by the Raila Odinga-led Azimio coalition.