The Senate is on Tuesday expected to easily approve a special motion for the establishment of a national dialogue committee because of political goodwill across the divide.
The motion at the Senate will be moved by the Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot and seconded by his Minority counterpart Stewart Madzayo.
After the approval, the much-awaited Kenya Kwanza and opposition talks will take shape.
The house was recalled from recess for a special sitting to discuss among other things the creation of the National Dialogue Committee.
The purpose of the motion is to give the Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung’wah-led committees a legal mandate to recommend constitutional and legal reforms.
It is a legal requirement to anchor the committee in law for any of its recommendations to be binding and have both legal and constitutional effect through parliamentary approval.
The Senate will be following in the footsteps of the National Assembly that on August 17 approved the same motion as part of the steps to pave the way for talks.
On Friday, the committee postponed its work until Wednesday to give the Senate time to approve the 10-member panel as part of the legal measures to also enable it to expend public funds.
While moving the motion at the National Assembly on August 17, Ichung’wah, expressed his side’s goodwill in ironing the differences on the issues to be canvassed between the rival coalitions.
“It is time to listen to our colleagues on the views they have on the cost of living even though we believe it is the duty of the government of the day to formulate policies that will bring down the cost of living,” Ichung’wah said.
Seconding the motion, Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi, said the dialogue will settle long-standing differences in the country.
“There are five agenda items we have a brief on, there are also five agenda items Azimio has brought to the table. It is time to listen to each other,” he said.
The National Dialogue Committee will report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions within 60 days and later submit its report to Parliament.
The 10-member committee is assisted by technical teams that have four representatives from both sides.
The committee is free to invite and engage with other stakeholders as well as collate views from the public and engage experts, professionals and other technical resource persons as necessary.
