Suba South Member of Parliament Caroli Omondi has dismissed the 10-point agenda released jointly by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as inadequate and misleading. Speaking during a ‘Linda Mwananchi’ press briefing on Wednesday, Omondi, who belongs to a rival ODM faction, criticized the report for failing to address key issues that initially motivated the dialogue between the two parties.
According to the legislator, the report ignored pressing economic concerns, particularly the high cost of living, which was a core topic in the inter-party discussions. He argued that the report only superficially touched on the matter, omitting concrete details on how Kenyans would benefit from reduced economic pressure.
“The question they ought to have answered is whether you feel better off today compared to three years ago. Does your shilling buy more or less than it did then? We don’t want to be told inflation has dropped from here to here,” MP Omondi stated.
Omondi also questioned the criteria used to determine compensation for victims of anti-government protests, casting doubt on the Ksh.2 billion allocated in the supplementary budget. He stressed that justice and accountability for rogue officers involved in these incidents remain unaddressed.
“Who knows how they arrived at Ksh.2 billion for the compensation of protest victims? Who knows the total number of victims? What about justice and accountability for rogue police officers?” he posed.
The MP further expressed skepticism over the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) following the contested 2022 General Elections. “They claim IEBC has been reconstituted, but has it inspired confidence among Kenyans? Questions remain over the selection process and potential ties between IEBC officials and high-ranking government officers,” he added.
Omondi maintained that the report did not reflect the vision of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, who signed the agenda with President William Ruto. He called for a “people’s report” that would be transparent and free from political manipulation.
“This document bears Raila’s signature. We are here to ensure political frauds are not committed in his name,” Omondi emphasized.
In contrast, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna defended the report, noting that it was compiled through extensive public engagement, surveys, feedback via phone and email, and scrutiny of parliamentary records and government documents relevant to the 10-point agenda.
The release of the so-called “People’s Report” comes amid ongoing debates over the progress and legitimacy of the UDA-ODM 10-point agenda, highlighting divisions within the opposition as Kenya prepares for future political engagements.
