Azimio-Ruto Team Agrees to Week-Long Retreat in Nakuru

The National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee (NADCO) activities appear to be making progress.

This comes after the Unity Alliance accepted to partake in a retreat at the Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge, Nakuru County, to discuss the report delivery strategy.

This development followed threats by Azimio Coalition to boycott the preparatory meeting if the issue of the cost of living was not addressed.

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Members of the NADCO committee were seen arriving at the retreat on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Representatives of the Kenya First government, led by Co-Chairman Kimani Ichung’wah, participated in the peaceful stages of the reconciliation process.

Apart from Mr. Ichung’wah, government committee members present at the hotel included Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.

Opposition delegates who had earlier expressed reluctance also arrived at the hotel located in the Gilgil constituency.

Those in attendance included National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and Azimio’s leader, Eugene Wamalwa.

NADCO Co-Chair representing Azimio, Kalonzo Musyoka, and other members arrived later.

During this week-long meeting, the committee will analyze the arguments presented by various stakeholders in the sessions held at Bomas in Nairobi.

The Bomas sessions concluded on October 6, 2023.

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On October 22, 2023, Azimio’s leader, Raila Odinga, stated that he would not sign the NADCO report if it does not prioritize addressing the high cost of living.

“We are in talks with the government, but the first issue should be reducing the cost of living,” Mr. Odinga said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has been pressuring the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, to strip Sabina Chege of her position as Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament because she supports the government while being a member of Azimio.

“We will not attend the meeting if they do not implement the decision to remove Sabina Chege from the position,” Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni told Taifa Leo, explaining that one of the tasks of the dialogue committee is to ensure that party rules are followed.

The alliance has decided that MP for Embakasi West, Mark Mwenje, should replace Ms. Chege, but this decision has not been implemented yet.

The committee has already reached an agreement on critical issues, including the formation of a new panel to appoint the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and six commissioners.

Six months after the 2022 general election, the opposition announced demonstrations against the government.

These protests resulted in the loss of 75 lives and destruction of property worth millions of shillings.

These incidents pushed both sides to come to an agreement and establish a reconciliation committee.

The audit of presidential votes, the process for selecting a new election commission, and the cost of living were some of the grievances raised by the Azimio Coalition.