By Eddah Waithaka
The National Council of Churches (NCCK) has called on the Kenyan government to prioritize public participation before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report is adopted by parliament.
This appeal was made after a consultative meeting that took place at the Christian Students’ Leadership Centre, the Ufungamano House.
In a statement, the NCCK said that sovereignty belongs to the people of Kenya. It is therefore crucial that the NADCO report is publicly validated before it is implemented.
“The people of Kenya have a fundamental right to be informed about and agree with the recommendations made by NADCO,” stated NCCK.
According to them, it would be very deceptive for the National Assembly to unilaterally implement decisions that radically affect Kenya’s governance and electoral environment.
The Council called on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, and the Speaker of the Senate, Amos Kingi, to ensure that the report is made public.
Also Read:https://switchmedianews.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/clergy-urges-the-government-to-address-poverty-drivers-for-prosperous-nations/
In addition, they called on the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to hold meetings in the counties to gather feedback from the citizens of Kenya.
The NCCK said on Tuesday that all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and is exercised either directly or through democratically elected representatives.
“For this reason, it is of absolute necessity that the Report of the National Dialogue Committee be taken to the people of Kenya for validation before it is implemented,” NCCK Nairobi Chairman Rev Dr Alphonse Kanga said.
The lobby also recommended that the parliamentary bills related to the NADCO report should be reviewed to bring them in line with the wishes of the people.
The National Dialogue Committee, set up as a platform to negotiate political compromises, was tasked with resolving crises resulting from politicians’ constant power struggles.
The NCCK underlined its concerns about the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Kenya, noting that the Constitution had been amended 39 times between 1963 and 2010.
“It is a significant red flag for Kenyans that The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2023, drafted as part of the NADCO report, seeks to amend 25 articles and add 6 new ones to the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” emphasized NCCK.
The Council called on all Kenyans to actively engage with the nine draft laws presented in the NADCO report. They encouraged citizens to demand electoral reforms that prioritise governance, accountability and legitimacy.
