NADCO Report: President Ruto Signs A Bill To Reconstitute The IEBC
The Mt Kenya Times 
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- As President Ruto signed the Bill to reform the IEBC, he also announced a 6-day national dialogue period starting Monday next week.
- This demonstrated he was walking the talk. He had assured Gen-Z protestors that he was ready to listen to their grievances and address them.
- We cannot however sort out these matters in the streets. We need to engage in a structured and constructive dialogue. I,m going to provide that leadership.
- The national multi sectoral forum will comprise 150 participants. Of these slots, Generation Z and millennials will appoint 50 members.
- President Ruto was flanked by opposition leaders led by Raila Odinga when he made this announcement.
The reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was one of key highlights of the final report of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) that was co-chaired by national assembly majority leader Kimani Ichungwah and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
When President William received the report, he assured Kenyans that he was committed to ensure the resolutions were implemented fully.
Kenyans got an opportunity to present their views on ‘Kenya We Want’.
This reaffirms my commitment to adhere to the tent of democracy and constitutionalism.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga took a cue and a few days later he also threw his full weight behind the report.
Besides reconstitution of the IEBC, the NADCO report recommended the creation of more executive offices.
Kenyans immediately faulted the latter proposal stating it was designed to create positions for the election losers.
This would lead to a bloated and duplicative government that Kenya economy cannot sustain.
This matter also stood out as a core concern that triggered recent street protests led by Generation-Z.
As President Ruto signed the Bill to reform the IEBC, he also announced a 6-day national dialogue period starting Monday next week.
This demonstrated he was walking the talk. He had assured Gen-Z protestors that he was ready to listen to their grievances and address them.
We cannot however sort out these matters in the streets. We need to engage in a structured and constructive dialogue. I,m going to provide that leadership.
The national multi sectoral forum will comprise 150 participants.
Of these slots, Generation Z and millennials will appoint 50 members.
President Ruto was flanked by opposition leaders led by Raila Odinga when he made this announcement.
Sometimes back, a section of the leaders drawn from opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition had alleged a plot to mutilate the NADCO report.
Many would interpret this as a cheap political gimmick.
This is because the same members had passed a Bill that created the dialogue committee.
One of the key highlights of the Bill was a clause that the report shall be subjected to debate and approval by members of parliament.
It is worth noting Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, who had alleged a plot to mutilate the report, were members of that committee.
As it turned out, there were no major changes that were introduced in the report.
To me, the two Azimio leaders were behaving like jilted lovers after realizing that their popularity was dropping very fast. This started after their defacto leader Raila Odinga adopted a low political profile to concentrate on campaign for Africa Union (AU) top job.
As a lawyer and senior counsel, Kalonzo knows that the President have no power to interfere with matters before the courts.
For starters, the orders suspending the implementation of the two chapters of NADCO report had been issued by a Judge based at Kiambu law court. This is until the cases filed are heard and determined.
Taking cognizant of the fact that Kenya is a country governed by rule of law and the constitution, one would expect Azimio leaders to file appeals to counter orders issued by the court.
As required by the law enacted to spearhead the process, the report was submitted to the Senate for concurrence.
This means new Bills capturing the proposals presented during the public hearings held at the Bomas of Kenya were being drafted. The court has however stopped parliament from subjecting the clauses being contested to debate or any vote.
If non-contested clauses sailed through, the law requires the Speakers of the two houses to submit the Bills to the President for assent.
Dr Ruto had rightly noted that we are a country governed by the constitution and so we welcome the NADCO report.
Speaking after attending a Sunday service at Priesthood church in Kahawa West Nairobi, the president noted. A 10-member committee set up to address the issues raised by the other side came up with a raft of the proposals. For now, we are now reading from the same page with our opponents. We are committed to ensure they are implemented in full.
So, having this report is a key milestone in fostering peace and unity of our country. His main competitor Raila Odinga also endorsed the report.
But as it turns out, the opinion is divided. I have been following with keen interest mixed reactions that the final report continues to elicit. This is good and healthy for our democracy. It shows that our democracy is maturing.
I did not expect Parliament to let down the President whose vision and mission is clear. My prayers were answered.
For President William Ruto, his main focus is to build a united and peace full Kenya and rid the country burden of foreign debts.
Addressing congregants at Priesthood Church in Kahawa West, Dr Ruto had said that he was happy to note that one of the recommendations in NADCO final report stated. The monies allocated for the local and foreign travels of the government officials should be cut by 50 percent and 30 percent respectively. For 50 pc cut, i have already done that.
For 30pc, I have no problem. I wish they could have pegged it at 50pc.
Notably, the recommendations had been informed by the views and memoranda submitted by the people of Kenya during the public hearings.
One of the issues agreed upon is the creation of the Office of Leader of Opposition. This is another key recommendation.
The bipartisan talks were being held at Bomas of Kenya. The opinion of the polls conducted by Trends and Insights for Africa (Tifa) had shown that majority of Kenyans supported the proposal by President William Ruto on creation of this Office.
Constitutionally speaking, parliament is a law making body.
If Raila won the elections, I’m sure sure he could have lured members of Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to support his development agenda inside and outside parliament.
It is worth noting Dr Ruto started rooting for a system of governance anchored on tenets of democracy and constitutionalism long before he become the President.
This is the first time in Kenya’s history that the sitting head of state is rooting for the creation of the Office of Opposition Leader.
President Ruto is rooting for the opposition that engages the government in a structured constructive and honest dialogue.
I remember a powerful speech he made at Chatham House in the United Kingdom (UK) in the countdown to the 2022 General Election.
He told his attentive audience who comprised political leaders, diplomats, scholars and professionals drawn from all parts of the world that he totally detested the system that was being embraced back home in Kenya.
As you are aware, the ‘handshake’ government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his partner Raila Odinga was at the helm of power.
He described it as a mongrel kind of thing. This system lacked consistent, direction and focus. It is an animal that one cannot understand.
This system has caused a lot confusion and stagnated the progress and wellbeing of our people.
In a functioning democracy, the government and opposition are supposed to operate as distinct entities.
If I win the elections and become the President, I want to assure Kenyans that I will strive to provide leadership on this matter.
Initially Raila and his brigade had resorted to throwing the spanners in the work by holding bloody and destructive demonstrations. He never wanted Ruto to succeed. He had previously used the same card to intimidate and blackmail presidents Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
He hoped this card will work even this time. The strategy flopped because Dr Ruto stood his ground.
Besides, majority of Kenyans also realized that Raila was taking them for a ride. He did not believe in thier course. He was just using them in pursuit of his selfish and personal gains.
Raila’s endgame was to force President Ruto to share the rulling Kenya Kwanza government with him.
Many Kenyans believe Raila was yet to accept the outcome of 2022 presidential election results because of one main reason.
He never thought he can lose because for the first time the outgoing President, the deep state and system was fully backing his candidature.
He however forgot this. Dr Ruto, his main competitor was on the other hand enjoying God’s favor and support of the majority of Kenyans.
We know that Kenyatta’s victories in both 2013 and 2017 was attributed to the popular support he had received from his strongholds of the Mount Kenya and Rift Valley regions.
He had already lost the two blocs and the voters were now rallying behind Ruto.
Dr Ruto had also raided and penetrated Raila Odinga’s strongholds and he had managed to sway a huge chunk of votes to his side.
With this, where did Raila expect to get votes?
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and politica hel analyst based in Nairobi
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Kindiki: Common African standards are the key to Africa’s $3.4 trillion market
- Nkabune residents renew protests over alleged poor management at technical institute
- The generation of fatherless children: How a group of men are manufacturing single mothers
- Adama Traoré set to join Deportivo de La Coruña as deal nears completion
- Premier League season stalls as court battle drags on
About the Author
