The National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) unveiled its final report on Saturday, featuring key recommendations aimed at addressing various issues in the aftermath of the 2022 Presidential Election. The report, co-signed by NADCO co-chairs Kalonzo Musyoka of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition and Kimani Ichung’wah of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, presented a comprehensive set of proposals.
In the realm of elections, the committee delved into four major issues and provided recommendations. Firstly, NADCO proposed a thorough audit of the 2022 Presidential Election. They called for the restructuring and expansion of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, suggesting an increase in its members from seven to nine.
The committee also advocated for the appointment of a panel of experts to assess the 2022 electoral process and the implementation of a mechanism to evaluate future elections.
The report further addressed electoral legal reforms, suggesting that reforms passed within 18 months before general elections should take effect in the subsequent election. Additionally, NADCO recommended extending the timeline for the Supreme Court to hear and determine a petition challenging presidential elections from 14 to 21 days.
Shifting focus, the committee proposed the establishment and solidification of state offices, including the creation of the leader of the opposition and the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. NADCO outlined that the prime minister would be nominated and appointed by the president with approval from the National Assembly.
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Regarding the cost of living, the committee acknowledged its inability to reach a consensus on certain proposals, such as the reduction of VAT on fuel and the scrapping of the housing levy. However, NADCO recommended measures to address the cost of living, including a 50 percent reduction in the travel budget for all arms of government and a 30 percent reduction in Daily Subsistence Allowances for State and Public Officers by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The committee also proposed that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, in collaboration with the national Treasury, reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh5 and Ksh3 per liter, respectively.
Additionally, NADCO recommended the finalization of the transfer of all devolved functions to county governments, with accompanying resources, and a constitutional amendment to ensure that the equitable share to County Governments is not less than 20 percent of all revenue collected by the National Government, up from the current 15 percent.
In a move to entrench funds into the constitution, the committee recommended the inclusion of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund. Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of the Ward Development Fund through statutory means.
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To enhance fidelity to the law on multiparty democracy, NADCO recommended the establishment of the Independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission as an independent body responsible for the registration of political parties and their officeholders, as well as the management of political parties’ funds.
