Majority leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah has said work of the National Dialogue Committee has so far been fruitful.
Speaking on Friday when the Nadco team handed over its report to Opposition leader Raila Odinga, Ichung’wah said rival politicians are now able to talk face-to-face owing to the dialogue process.
He said Kenya Kwanza and Azimio politicians have put aside their differences for the country’s sake courtesy of the talks.
“For many of us, it is the first time to be at your Capitol Hill office. There was a time, your excellency, we would not set foot here,” Ichung’wah said as he thanked Raila for personally welcoming them to his office.
“We are indeed grateful that we are now here as part of the Kenya Kwanza team that has been welcomed here by you.”
Ichung'wah said Kenya Kwanza values Raila as a Kenyan, as a nationalist and as an African statesman who has the wishes of Kenyans and Africans at heart.
“As you endeavour to take over the AU commission chairperson position, we support you as Kenyans because you will go there not as Azimio or ODM but Kenya,” he added.
Ichung’wah said the dialogue team addressed about 90 per cent of the issues they were tasked to look into.
“The few issues we could not agree on, we referred them to you and President William Ruto. But the most important thing for the team and the nation is not to forget the things that led us to the dialogue table,” he added.
The Kikuyu MP noted that lives were lost, properties destroyed and the economy was taken aback during moments of upheaval in the political arena.
“The lessons we have learnt as a team and as Kenyans that there is no task that is beyond people when they dialogue. We began as two teams that had their views on each of the issues but through dialogue we were able to build consensus,” he said.
Ichung'wah expressed optimism that the issues the team referred to the President and Opposition leader will eventually be addressed through dialogue.
“The best gift we can give those who lost loved ones or property is to ensure that violence stops being part of the political discourse,” he added.
The National Assembly adopted the Nadco report on February 24 following its tabling in the House on December 7, 2023 by Ichung’wah.
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.
In included the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.
