Dialogue team agrees on election results audit, IEBC recruitment

Give-and-take affair

For months, Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance had opposed the audit, arguing that the Supreme Court had put the matter to rest.

The first change of tune came with the United Democratic Alliance's concession to an audit of electoral processes during the team's public hearings.

Since then, the talks have seemed a give-and-take affair, with both sides accepting their colleagues' demands. The initial uneasy meetings have also evolved into cordial engagements. That is despite a spirited opposition by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies from the Mt Kenya region, who fear that a truce between Ruto and Raila could sideline them.

Observers have also noted that Gachagua is concerned that the talks could build National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah politically, who co-chairs the committee, hampering the DP's chances of succeeding Ruto.

On Thursday, the committee announced that it had agreed to establish the office of the leader of the official opposition and entrench that of the prime cabinet secretary in the Constitution.

Party fidelity

The committee, led by Ichung'wah and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, also agreed on political party fidelity, entrenching the two-thirds gender principle and the National Government Constituency Development Fund.

Kenyans are, however, still waiting to see how the committee will resolve the cost of living, which was among the issues that drove the opposition to the streets in demonstrations that paralysed business in Nairobi and other Opposition strongholds.

It remains the major subject that has failed to gain concurrence.

The committee will retreat on October 23 to write its report to be tabled in the National Assembly and Senate.

The committee will be seeking an extension of their mandate, given their 60-day timeline expires on October 28.

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