Aasai

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have resolved to expedite the implementation of the 10-point National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, in a move that underscores their political resolve and shared reform agenda. Meeting for their first joint parliamentary session, lawmakers from the two opposing parties agreed on an implementation matrix that sets out a timeline for the process. 

The committee, headed by former ODM Secretary-General Agnes Zani, has been tasked with leading the work immediately and submitting a final report by March 7, 2025—coinciding with the first anniversary of the UDA-ODM Memorandum of Understanding. President William Ruto, his deputy Prof. NADCO recommendations that the opposition has been pushing for. According to the framework, the Zani-led team will begin stakeholder consultations next week, involving the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet, the Head of the Public Service and the Cabinet Secretary, the Presidents Office, the Delivery Unit, the Council of Governors and the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament. 

In addition, the committee will conduct extensive public engagement. The recruitment and training of field officers is scheduled for October, after which the team will begin county-wide activities, invite written memoranda through publications and electronic platforms, and conduct targeted consultations with specific groups and organizations. The process will culminate in a national public consultation conference in Nairobi. A progress review is scheduled for December, when the joint parliamentary group will meet again to assess the pace of implementation. 

Speaking at the conference, Raila Odinga stressed the importance of the plan: "We chose to have a country rather than deal with a collapsed nation," he said, stressing the need for consensus in driving reform. The two sides also plan to celebrate the first anniversary of their political agreement on March 7, 2025. The celebrations will be marked by the public release of the final implementation report by President Ruto and Mr Odinga.

The committee tasked with implementing the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and its ten-point agenda has announced plans to broaden its scope. The committee has indicated that it will include policy and institutional reforms beyond legislative measures

. Speaking during a joint parliamentary session between the Orange Democratic Movement and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, the committee’s chairperson, Appointed Agnes Zani, stressed the need to address the unresolved issues raised during public engagement and stakeholder consultations. “We need to go further and try to find other ways to address the issues raised through policy and reforms,” said Zani. “Even during public engagement, people said a lot of things that are very important, and we need to include them in our work.”