Ruto, Raila Close Ranks on Positions of Prime Cabinet Secretary, Official Opposition Leader

President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga have come to an understanding regarding the establishment of the positions of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Official Leader of the Opposition.

On Thursday, the National Dialogue Committee comprising 10 members, reported on the agreement reached regarding key matters such as the two-thirds gender rule and the entrenchment of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). However, while these matters faced no opposition during the conference at Bomas of Kenya, stress factors such as the revamping of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and Azimio la Umoja (One Kenya Coalition) Party's unrelenting campaign for a forensic review of 2022 presidential elections, alongside the cost of living, still present areas of disagreement.

Aiming to finalize negotiations and deliver a report to Parliament on time, the negotiating team has organized an additional meeting this morning to handle contentious matters. The agreement reached on forming positions may result in Mr Odinga being at odds with his followers and protest participants who pushed for electoral reform and lower living costs, which compelled President William Ruto to engage in negotiations. For opposition supporters, accepting the deal without successfully pressuring the government to reduce the high cost of living and implement significant electoral reforms would be viewed as a betrayal.

Yesterday, Kimani Ichung'wah, co-chair of the National Dialogue Committee and Majority Leader of the National Assembly announced that progress had been made on most of the uncontested issues. Mr Ichung'wah also revealed that steps were being taken to address the issue of loyalty to political parties. The opposition has accused the President of supporting political revolt within the Jubilee Party and Mr Odinga's ODM.

The opposition has been calling for MPs who have switched their allegiance to seek a fresh mandate. During their presentations, the two sides clashed over the reconstitution of the IEBC, with Mr Odinga's group insisting that commissioners be nominated on a 50:50 basis to oversee the electoral body. The opposition is advocating for an Inter-Party Parliamentary Group (IPPG), in which political parties directly select commissioners, as was the case in 1997. However, the President wants the IEBC selection panel, which he appointed in February, to continue with the process of hiring a new team to replace the current one led by Wafula Chebukati.

To ensure the commission's autonomy and shield it from political meddling, the opposition proposes that both sides enlist the services of impartial forensic audit firms to scrutinize the results of the presidential election. However, the ruling alliance contends that subjecting the election outcome to an audit could incite disorder and turmoil. Kenya Kwanza warns that such a move may cause future political actors to disregard the Supreme Court's rulings.