The National Dialogue Committee report has been released after three months of discussions and deliberations. The committee gave recommendations in the report that will help the country heal and move forward.
Led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung’wah, the committee agreed on several aspects but also disagreed on key aspects that could lower the cost of living. However, the report was released despite the failure to agree on all aspects.
Recommendations By The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO)
Electroral Justice and Related matters: The Committee agreed that on the audit of the 2022 general elections, an evaluation should be done.
This will include the reconstruction and reconstitution of the IEBC. The committee suggested that the IEBC should be expanded from the current 7-member panel to a 9- member panel.
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On the same breath of electoral reforms, the committee recommended that the time frame of hearing and determining the presidential petitions by the Supreme Court be increased from the current 14 days to 21 days.
The committee also recommended that the legal reforms be passed less than 18 months into the general election for an effective electioneering cycle.
On the Cost Of Living: NADCO recommends that:
All government officials reduce their travel budget by 50% to divert the funds to other basic necessities. This will trigger the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to review Daily Subsistence Allowances and reduce it by 30%
The ministry of energy and Petroleum together with the national treasury to reduce Road Mantainance Levy and Anti-adulteration Levy. The reduction should be done by Ksh. 3 and Ksh. 5 per litre respectively.
NADCO also recommended that the National Government finalises the transfer of all devolved funcyionsand provide enough resources for the counties. This is through Parliamentary Ammendments that will provide a 20% share of all revenue collected up from the current 15%
However, NADCO failed to agree on reduction of VAT on fuel from 16%to 8% as suggested by the opposition. The housing Levy was also off the table as the government failed to agree on the idea of scrapping it off.
The National Dialogue Committee report also recommend the establishment of the office of the leader of official opposition. This will be the leader of the party or coalition that garnered the second most number of votes. He/she shall have two deputies with funds allocated to him.
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NADCO also recommends the creation of the office of the Prime Minister. He/she is nominated, approved by Parliament and appointed by the President.