NAIROBI, Kenya – The Interior Ministry, under the leadership of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, has faced a significant setback after members of parliament rejected its proposal to establish a National Peacebuilding Commission (NPC).
The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, in a statement released on Friday, November 15, 2024, unanimously dismissed the plan, terming it redundant and an unnecessary financial burden.
The decision followed a joint retreat in Mombasa between the committee and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
During the meeting, NCIC officials briefed MPs on the proposal, which aimed to create a commission tasked with managing the Peace Building Fund and spearheading nationwide peace education initiatives.
Committee members argued that the NPC would duplicate the work of existing institutions like the NCIC, which already oversees cohesion and integration efforts.
Vice Chairperson Liza Chelule emphasized that strengthening existing structures would be more effective than creating new ones.
“Effective enhancement of peace and cohesion in the country does not need a new commission. The government should empower existing institutions to do the job,” Chelule, the Nakuru County MP, said.
Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the proliferation of commissions that fail to deliver tangible results.
“These businesses of creating new commissions that don’t serve Kenyans adequately have caused a lot of discomfort among citizens. The focus should be on enhancing funding for NCIC, which is currently malnourished financially,” Owino remarked.
Teso North MP Oku Kaunya highlighted the financial implications, warning that the creation of a new commission would impose an additional tax burden on Kenyans.
“Those proposing to create the new commission—have they thought of where they will get money for the Peace Building Fund? Kenyans are not ready to be taxed again for such unnecessary organizations,” Kaunya stated.
The NCIC, led by Chairperson Samuel Kobia, defended the proposal, noting it was drafted by experts commissioned and funded by the Interior Ministry with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kobia acknowledged that NCIC’s role was limited to providing input, similar to other stakeholders consulted in the process.
Despite supporting some of the ideas in the proposal, such as youth-centered peacebuilding initiatives, MPs maintained that bolstering existing institutions like the NCIC would be a more prudent approach.
The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, in a statement released on Friday, November 15, 2024, unanimously dismissed the plan, terming it redundant and an unnecessary financial burden.
The decision followed a joint retreat in Mombasa between the committee and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
During the meeting, NCIC officials briefed MPs on the proposal, which aimed to create a commission tasked with managing the Peace Building Fund and spearheading nationwide peace education initiatives.
Committee members argued that the NPC would duplicate the work of existing institutions like the NCIC, which already oversees cohesion and integration efforts.
Vice Chairperson Liza Chelule emphasized that strengthening existing structures would be more effective than creating new ones.
“Effective enhancement of peace and cohesion in the country does not need a new commission. The government should empower existing institutions to do the job,” Chelule, the Nakuru County MP, said.
Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the proliferation of commissions that fail to deliver tangible results.
“These businesses of creating new commissions that don’t serve Kenyans adequately have caused a lot of discomfort among citizens. The focus should be on enhancing funding for NCIC, which is currently malnourished financially,” Owino remarked.
Teso North MP Oku Kaunya highlighted the financial implications, warning that the creation of a new commission would impose an additional tax burden on Kenyans.
“Those proposing to create the new commission—have they thought of where they will get money for the Peace Building Fund? Kenyans are not ready to be taxed again for such unnecessary organizations,” Kaunya stated.
The NCIC, led by Chairperson Samuel Kobia, defended the proposal, noting it was drafted by experts commissioned and funded by the Interior Ministry with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kobia acknowledged that NCIC’s role was limited to providing input, similar to other stakeholders consulted in the process.
Despite supporting some of the ideas in the proposal, such as youth-centered peacebuilding initiatives, MPs maintained that bolstering existing institutions like the NCIC would be a more prudent approach.
