Editor's Review

While putting the president on notice, Ngunyi observed that it was not normal for Raila to be silent.

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi says there is more to read in Raila Odinga's recent lack of political activity.

According to Ngunyi, the Azimio La Umoja leader's silence should be of concern to President William Ruto, with whom they are political nemeses.

Ngunyi appeared to be putting the president notice, suggesting Raila could be strategising his next political move.

"Dear Ruto, when your opponent is silent, you must worry. Babaman (Raila) has been silent, why?" Posed Ngunyi on Twitter.

For a time, Raila has toned down on his anti-government politicking which had been constantly characterised by mass action protests.

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In the past three months, the former premier and his Azimio faction of leaders have been taking on the government on the sides, the latest lamentations being on the pricey cost of fuel products.

This as the the National Dialogue Committee co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah finalizes their engagements.

The team was put together by the president and the Opposition chief to deliberate on the issues that informed the calling of the protests that were turning deadly each moment.

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.

The National Assembly granted the prayer by Ichung'wah to have the committee's mandate extended.

The majority leader who also doubles up as Kikuyu MP explained that the extension would allow the bipartisan committee to finalize issues for negotiations and make appropriate policy and legal reforms.

“Conscious that the resolution as passed by both houses of parliament requires the committee to report to the leadership of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition within sixty days from 29 August 2023, recognizing the need for the committee to conclude the consideration of the issue for negotiations, the process of making appropriate policy and legal reforms of the issues framed by the committee, the houses resolve to extend the mandate of the committee by a further 30 days until November 26, 2023,” said Ichung’wah.

The Kikuyu MP also noted that the dialogue committee has made progress in the exercise of its mandate and has so far formulated and adopted a framework, adopted a statement of issues, unbundled the issues, and agreed on the prioritization of the issues.

The bipartisan committee reached a consensus on the creation of the Office of the Official Leader of Opposition and the embedding of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

It also agreed on entrenchment into the constitution of the Constituency Development Fund, National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Senate Oversight Fund two-thirds gender rule, and fidelity to political parties.