NADCO chair dismisses Sifuna on funding, says ODM-UDA facilitate committee work

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV's The Explainer, the NADCO chairperson said the committee is not provided with actual cash but relies on logistical support organised by both ODM and UDA when holding forums across the country.

Her remarks came after Sifuna, a signatory to ODM's account, recently stated that the party had not given any funding to the committee to carry out its functions - a statement that Dr. Zani refuted. 

“We're not receiving the money in cash. Even when we go out to meet the public or go to the public forums, the parties will organise to make sure that the various public forums are in place. Maybe you can ask him where his sources are because I wouldn't be able to tell,” said Dr. Zani.

“He's not the only one among the signatories. We have about five different signatories and any three can sign at any one particular time,” Dr. Zani noted.

Clarifying the committee’s mandate, Zani stressed that it was not established to implement the NADCO report but to act as an oversight to the relevant stakeholders and track progress on the issues agreed upon in the bipartisan talks.

“We are not the ones doing the rating. It is the external organs and the implementers who are going to tell us the progress. All we are doing is consolidating and putting in the data," she added.

“I think the notion that we're the ones implementing, but we're overseeing, looking at other organs and other primary responsible organs, this is the model we need to understand."

The chairperson revealed that the committee has already engaged several government entities while enquiring on the progress of the NADCO and expressed confidence that they will deliver a report by March 7th. 

On reporting obligations, she noted that the committee has been issuing regular updates.

“In the provisions to the principles after we were established, we had to give reports every two months. The first PG was in August, October 6, December 6, February 6 and March 7,” she said.

The five-member committee comprises Vice Chair Javas Bigambo, Fatuma Ibrahim, Gabriel Oguda, and Kevin Kiarie.

The Committee was tasked with NADCO’s operation, which revolves around a 10-point agenda agreed upon during the bipartisan talks. 

The issues include the cost of living, audit and transparency of the 2022 election results, reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, inclusivity in public appointments, and strengthening devolution.

Others include national debt management and fiscal responsibility, anti-corruption measures, fidelity to political parties, protection of the right to peaceful assembly and compensation for victims of police brutality, and a framework for bipartisan engagement in Parliament.