Frustration is mounting among the Kenyan public as political infighting casts doubts on the credibility of the much-anticipated 10-point agenda, a product of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report initiated by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Saturday during the burial ceremony of mzee Edward Makokha in Lugari, former President of the Bunge la Mwanainchi and parliamentary aspirant Henry Shitanda voiced the growing discontent, urging political leaders to prioritize the nation’s progress over ODM’s internal party squabbles.
“The country cannot be held hostage by conflicting reports of the 10-point agenda initiated by UDA and ODM,” Shitanda asserted. “We must move on as a country.”
The NADCO report, born from talks between the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions, was intended to address pressing national issues, including electoral reforms, cost of living, and inclusivity. However, its findings have become entangled in a web of political disputes, which os likely to undermine it’s credibility.
Shitanda expressed concern over the competing timelines and methods for unveiling the document. “We hear the teams will present different findings between today and Sunday. That in itself is holding all of us hostage and putting us in a precarious position when we should be concentrating on the progress of the country,” he said.
The aspirant highlighted a deepening rift within the coalitions regarding the presentation format. While a faction within UDA and ODM is pushing for the report to be tabled and debated in a joint parliamentary group meeting, another group, reportedly led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Senator James Orengo, insists the document should be released directly to the public for transparency.
“Again, the manner in which the report is to be unveiled doesn’t matter to us,” Shitanda clarified, seeking to bridge the procedural debate. “What we want is the report to be released so that we get over it and know what we are going to solve and how.”
Shitanda argued that while political elites bicker over logistics, ordinary Kenyans are waiting for tangible service delivery from the State. “We can’t be held hostage by competing political functions on a simple thing like how a report is to be released,” he concluded, urging leaders to reconcile and finalize the process immediately to allow the government to focus on solving the nation’s challenges.
