Omtatah Criticizes Ruto-Raila Deal, Calls for Full Constitution Implementation
After President William Ruto expressed his commitment to fully implementing the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah swiftly criticized the move, arguing that Ruto should focus on properly enforcing the Constitution instead.
Omtatah’s remarks come shortly after Ruto pledged to support the report’s full implementation, which was created to address tensions following the contested 2022 elections.
The NADCO report emerged from a collaborative effort between Ruto and Raila Odinga, who formed a committee to ease political tensions between the opposition and the ruling Kenya Kwanza government.
The committee, co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, came up with several key recommendations.
These included restructuring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), evaluating the 2022 electoral process, and establishing new positions like the Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition.
In November 2023, the committee released the controversial NADCO report, outlining these and other recommendations. However, Omtatah warned that implementing the report could harm the country’s future.
During his speech at the People’s Dialogue Festival at Uhuru Park on Friday, March 7, he stated that the government should prioritize the full implementation of the Constitution instead of pursuing the NADCO report.
According to Omtatah, the Constitution should be followed in its current form, and if that proves insufficient, only then should there be any amendments.
He likened the situation to having a large vehicle with a powerful engine but no wheels, emphasizing that just returning the wheels would be enough to get the vehicle moving again.
Omtatah further voiced strong opposition to the deal between Ruto and Raila, which has sparked controversy.
He vowed that the opposition, led by the people, would continue to challenge Ruto and Raila’s efforts to implement the NADCO report. Omtatah’s message was clear: “Anyone who supports the NADCO report must be removed from public life and return to their private lives.”
He also expressed his concern that Ruto and Raila were undermining the future of Kenya by attempting to reverse progress.
“Raila Odinga and William Ruto have declared war on the future of this country. They want to take us back to the past, but we are not going back. We are moving forward, and we are ready to fight for that future,” he stated passionately.
Meanwhile, President Ruto and Raila Odinga signed a political cooperation agreement between their respective parties, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The deal includes a 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which focuses on national unity and resolving governance challenges.
Key commitments within the MoU include the complete implementation of the NADCO report, ensuring fairness in public appointments and budget allocations, and promoting devolution.
The agreement also highlights initiatives aimed at economic growth, particularly through investments targeting the youth, as well as promoting leadership integrity and curbing the lavish lifestyles of public officials.
Further provisions of the MoU stress the protection of citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, compensation for those who have suffered rights violations, and a thorough audit of the national debt.
Additionally, it outlines a concerted effort to fight corruption, protect public resources, and safeguard citizens’ rights, including preventing abductions.
Through this agreement, both Ruto and Raila are signaling their commitment to upholding the rule of law, constitutionalism, press freedom, and the sovereignty of the Kenyan people.
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