Karua Speaks on Proposals Made by Bipartisan Committee

Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has stated that any agreement made by the National Dialogue Commitee (NADCO) that did not have an impact on the cost of living ought to be rejected.

In a statement on Sunday, November 26, Karua referred to the recommendations made by the committee in a report released on November 25, after the conclusion of Bipartisan talks.

At the same time, Karua stated that other decisions that should be rejected are those that do not address the matter of electoral justice and the respect for democracy. 

“Any purported agreement that does not immediately impact on cost of living, electoral justice and respect for multiparty democracy is a fraud on the people and must be rejected,” she stated.

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Highlights of the Bipartisan Report Referred to by Karua

Some of the proposals made in the report included a 50 per cent budget cut on travel expenditure for government officials to reduce the high cost of living. 

Notably, despite President William Ruto’s revelation that the government would reduce government official’s travel allowances, politicians still traveled across different countries in the diaspora at the expense of taxpayers.

Further, NADCO’s report recommend cuts on allowances paid to public officers by 30 per cent to cushion Kenyans from economic hardships.

The proposal comes at a time when government officials have been accused of wasting public funds in foreign travels which a section of Kenyans have argued is not beneficial to the common citizen.

At the same time, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in liaison with the national Treasury reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh5 and Ksh3 per liter respectively.

“NADCO recommends the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in liaison with the national Treasury reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh5 and Ksh3 per liter respectively,” the statement read in part.

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Other Recommendations 

On the other hand, the committee issued recommendations on the establishment and entrenchment of state offices and electoral justice including the evaluation of the 2022 elections results. 

“The Committee recommended the reconstitution of the IEBC Selection Panel comprising nine members.

“The committee recommended the appointment of a panel of experts who would evaluate the 2022 electoral process and a mechanism for evaluating future election,” the report read in part. 

Also, NADCO recommended “the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Constitution in recognition of the value and legitimacy of opposition parties as part of a country’s political system.”

Similarly, NADCO recommended the establishment of the Office of the Prime Minister in the Constitution as a way of improving governance and coordination of functions of the executive arm of government.

“It is our firm belief that the Report has addressed the issues that formed the basis of the talks, and the recommendations therein will progressively heal our wounds,” the committee stated.