NADCO proposes creation of Prime Minister and Opposition Leader’s office

In a joint statement sent to newsrooms on Saturday, the 10-member team stated that their 4-month talks yielded the amicable resolve to create both offices to foster national unity between the opposition and the government.

The two positions now await approval by the National Assembly and if it receives a greenlight, the expected occupants, Musalia Mudavadi and opposition leader Raila Odinga, will be appointed by President William Ruto.

Other matters that the committee was deliberating on was the all-time-high cost of living which they recommended that all arms of government should reduce their travel budgets by 50%.

They added: "...and that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) review Daily Subsistence Allowances for State and Public Officers with a view to reducing by 30%."

They also proposed that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in liaison with the National Treasury should reduce the road maintenance levy and the anti-adulteration levy by Ksh.5 and Ksh.3 per liter respectively. Both levies are currently set at Ksh.18 per litre.

"NADCO recommends that the National Government finalizes the transfer of all devolved functions and provides for the concomitant resources to the county governments," NADCO added.

They however noted that they were unable to reach a consensus on the reduction of VAT on fuel from 16% to 8%, and the scrapping of the housing levy; the two issues that have attracted sharp criticism against the government from Kenyans.

The committee was established through a parliamentary resolution passed on August 29 and given 60 days to deliberate key issues of interest to Kenyans and come up with a report.

It was mandated to deliberate on a five-point agenda; Outstanding Constitutional matters; Electoral justice and related matters; Entrenching funds into the Constitution; Establishment and entrenchment of State offices; and Fidelity to Political Parties/Coalitions and the law on multiparty democracy.

The matters had remained a bone of contention between the Azimio la Umoja coalition and the Kenya Kwanza government which led to nationwide protests which turned chaotic.

Azimio has previously said they will take another move if the bipartisan talks seem unpromising.

Previous talks in April and May broke down as both sides accused each other of sabotage.