Mandera Senator Ali Roba accuses National Dialogue Committee of overstepping its mandate

Mandera Senator Ali Roba has lashed out at the National Dialogue Committee accusing it of usurping roles it was not assigned.

According to the Senator, there seems to be total confusion as to the mandate of the National Dialogue Committee.

Roba says what started as a skeleton team to lay a clear framework for the reconciliation of President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga has inadvertently turned out to be a referendum preparation committee with only two stakeholders out of the many in the country represented.

“In my view the committee is overstepping their mandate of facilitating the reconciliation of the president and Raila Odinga. If the mandate had changed into a proxy referendum preparation team, Kenyans should be made aware so that they participate accordingly within the law. Otherwise they should deal with what they were formed to transact,” said Roba during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Friday.

He added: “What is even more absurd is that they are now collecting opinions from those whose choose to present themselves for the same in total disregard of the public participation requirements in a structured manner for any such events that may lead to a referendum. One wonders what the true mandate of the National Dialogue committee is?”

Last month, three petitioners moved to court to challenge the ongoing bi-partisan talks being undertaken by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC), claiming that the entire process is unconstitutional.

 The petitioners argue that there was no public participation in the establishment of the committee, adding that the dialogue process happening at Bomas of Kenya is majorly dominated by the political elite who want to push for constitutional reforms to satisfy their personal political interests.

The three Kenyans, Issa Elanyi Chamao, Patrick Karani Ekirapa and Paul Ngweywo Kirui argue that the National Committee co-chaired Majority Leader Kimani Ichngwa na Azimio coalition Co-Principal Kalonzo Musyoka is exercising authority not delegated by the Constitution or statute.

The petitioners want the court to stop the operations of the Committee and issue a structural interdict order that requires Parliament to enact legislation to guide consideration of constitutional questions that are before the National Dialogue Committee.