Committee overseeing NADCO report to expand mandate beyond legislation

The committee tasked with implementing the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and the ten-point agenda has announced plans to broaden its scope.

The committee has indicated that it will include policy and institutional reforms beyond legislative action.

Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting between the Orange Democratic Movement and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, committee chairperson Nominated Senator Agnes Zani emphasised the need to address unlegislated issues raised during public participation and stakeholder consultations.

“We have to go beyond and try to find other ways of addressing issues raised through policies and reforms,” said Zani.

“Even during public participation, people said a lot of things that are very critical, and we need to include them in our work.”

The committee, co-chaired by Zani and Vice Chair Javas Bigambo, includes members Fatuma Ibrahim, Gabriel Oguda, and Kevin Kiarie.

It was formed following a political truce between President William Ruto and ODM party leader Raila Odinga to implement recommendations from NADCO and advance national consensus on key issues.

Zani stressed the importance of incorporating feedback from citizens into concrete policy changes. “We need to hear the voices of what Kenyans are talking about and craft them as policies or legislation.”

The NADCO report was the product of extensive national consultations involving civil society, trade unions, government ministries, independent commissions, and various community and minority groups.

Its recommendations formed the backbone of the ten-point agenda agreed upon by the two main political factions in a bid to foster political stability and inclusive governance.

The expanded scope means the committee will now also examine administrative and institutional reforms, potentially reshaping how government and public institutions function in response to citizen concerns.

The National Assembly adopted the report of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which was tabled in the House on December  7, 2023, by Leader of the Majority Party and NADCO Co-Chairperson, Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu).

The report and recommendations of the 10-member Committee, which was established to facilitate a dialogue and consensus building, recommend appropriate constitutional, legal and policy reforms on issues of concern to the people of Kenya, focused on five key areas.