The Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) Musalia Mudavadi has urged Kenyans to give the National Assembly a chance to debate the recent report unveiled by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) to give the country direction to take.
Consequently, Mudavadi disclosed that the legislators, currently on recess, will discuss and process the report as soon as they resume sittings in February next year.
“I urge all Kenyans to respect the new process as the report will be handled and debated by the legislators once they resume duty and give us direction to take as a country,” said the PCS, during a thanksgiving ceremony for the Devolution Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika at Mukuyuni Primary School, Kaiti subcounty, Makueni.
Noting that President Dr. William Ruto remains focused on fostering peace in the country, Mudavadi recalled that the government ceded to the demands of the opposition and embraced dialogue, as a way of ending the frequent demonstrations witnessed then in the country.
However, the PCS took issue with the Jubilee Party for dismissing the report saying this was being disrespectful to the many Kenyans who took their precious time to appear before the National Dialogue Committee and give their input.
“Why is the Jubilee party dismissing the report? The team does not want to respect the report released by NADCO co-chaired by the Majority Leader in Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah and Azimio la Umoja Principal Kalonzo Musyoka,” he lamented.
“What is the end game here? This is the question I want to leave for the people of Makueni. Why are we being taken in circles?” he posed.
On the cost of living, the PCS agreed that it was high, but was quick to assure Kenyans that the government was trying hard to alleviate the situation, especially with the current enhanced rains in most parts of the country that will contribute to increased food production.
“The cost of living is high. Let us not lie to one another. However, we will join hands all of us, and ensure the problem is solved and soon we shall get relief,” he noted.
“We thank God because He has given us rains that will contribute to increased production of food in the country,” Mudavadi added.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah presenting NADCO Report
NADCO RECOMMENDATIONS
NADCO recommends the increase of timelines within which the Supreme Court shall hear and determine a petition challenging the validity of a presidential election from 14 to 21 days.
They also agreed on the creation of the post of official opposition leader with two deputies and the entrenching of the prime cabinet secretary’s office into law.
On the cost of living, NADCO has recommended that all arms of government reduce travel by 50pc with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission also reviewing per diem given to state officers during official travel with a view of reducing the same by 30pc.
OPPOSITION ON REPORT
The NADCO Report has started to threaten the Opposition Coalition unity with some of the principals dismissing it as pro-government.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, her DAP-Kenya counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and the Jubilee Party have distanced themselves from the report. Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who co-chaired the NADCO committee, is in Raila’s camp.
“The NADCO report fails to address the issue of cost of living and has instead served Kenyans with a contempt card, it has nothing to alleviate the suffering of citizens but offers goodies to the leaders. It is a fraud that Kenyans should reject. It is a distracting national smokescreen.”Karua said.
Karua further claimed the report’s findings confirmed that the committee was “formed by the unwilling, composed of the incompetent to do the unnecessary”.
But according to Raila, the only concern was the high cost of living, an issue which he vowed to continue pushing.