We're satisfied with talks' progress – dialogue committee

The National Dialogue Committee has termed the ongoing talks at Bomas of Kenya as successful, so far.

The Kenya Kwanza and Azimio leadership said they were satisfied with the progress of the talks, which entered the third day on Monday.

All members of the committee have shown up for the meeting save for the leader of the Azimio side Kalonzo Musyoka and Kenya Kwanza's Aaron Cheruiyot.

"The two will be joining us in subsequent meetings," National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi said.

Wandayi said the Motion seeking to legally establish the committee has been forwarded to the Senate after it was adopted in the National Assembly.

"The Senate will consider the Motion on Tuesday next week with the view of adopting it," he said.

Wandayi further announced that the technical teams will every day for deliberations up to Thursday.

"They will be framing the issues for discussions up to Thursday and then join us on Friday when we will convene," he added.

Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah said the Senate being on recess, the Speaker will convene a special sitting to consider the Motion.

"We have 60 days within which we should have completed our work. I want to note that the 60 days will start counting when the Senate adopts the Motion," he said.

Ichung'wah assured that the committee will not be distracted by remarks being made by politicians.

"What is being said out there will not determine our discourse. We will ignore all the noise," he explained.

The technical teams from both sides were last week tasked with framing the agenda items for consideration by the committee.

The teams were briefed on the expectations of their respective sides and assigned to synchronise the proposals from the two sides.

Kenya Kwanza's, Embu Governor, Cecil Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar and Catherine Wambilianga were present. Azimio's Eugene Wamalwa, Okon'go Omogeni and Amina Mnyazi attended the meeting.

The committee is expected to recommend appropriate legal and policy reforms on issues affecting Kenyans in line with the Constitution and respecting the functional and institutional integrity of state organs.