In a significant move signalling sustained political cooperation, President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga today unveiled a powerful five-member committee tasked with breathing life into their historic unity pact signed five months ago.
The committee, announced in a joint statement signed by both leaders (“H.E the President, Dr. William Ruto” and “The Right Honourable Raila Odinga”), is mandated to oversee the full implementation of the 10-Point Agenda outlined in their March 7th Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement between Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) aims to foster national cohesion and drive inclusive prosperity by tackling deep-seated challenges.
The Committee and its Mandate:
The newly formed oversight body comprises:
- Agnes Zani (Chairperson)
- Fatuma Ibrahim (Member)
- Kevin Kistar (Member)
- Gabriel Oguda (Member)
- Javas Bigambo (Member)
A Joint Secretariat, co-led by Executive Secretaries from UDA and ODM, has been established to provide operational support. Both parties will fully fund and facilitate the committee’s work.
Driving the 10-Point Agenda:
The committee’s core mission is to ensure the realization of the ambitious MoU, which committed both leaders to:
- Full implementation of the NADCO Report.
- Inclusivity in all spheres of public life.
- Protecting and strengthening devolution.
- Promoting and protecting the livelihood of the youth.
- Upholding leadership and integrity.
- Protecting the right to peaceful assembly (Article 37) and compensating victims of protests/riots.
- Addressing the national debt burden.
- Intensifying the fight against corruption.
- Stopping wastage of public resources and promoting government efficiency.
- Protecting and promoting the sovereignty of the people, rule of law, and constitutionalism.
Inclusive Process and Accountability:
The statement emphasizes that the committee will operate “under the guidance of the Principals” and undertake “inclusive and extensive consultations.” This will involve engaging:
- The general public
- All arms of Government and departments
- Independent commissions
- Civil society organizations
- Religious institutions
- The private sector
The goal is to ensure diverse perspectives inform the MoU’s implementation and address the needs of all Kenyans.
Strict Timelines Set:
The committee begins work immediately and faces strict reporting deadlines:
- Progress Reports to Ruto & Odinga: Every two months.
- Reports to Joint Kenya Kwanza-ODM Parliamentary Group: Quarterly, with the first sitting scheduled for August 18, 2025.
- Final Public Report: A comprehensive report detailing the status of the MoU’s implementation will be released to the public on March 7, 2026, exactly one year after its signing.
Significance:
The formation of this high-level committee, backed by both ruling and opposition parties, marks the most concrete step yet towards operationalizing the Ruto-Odinga unity deal. It moves beyond symbolic agreement, establishing a dedicated, funded mechanism with clear accountability structures to drive tangible progress on critical national issues. The diverse committee membership and commitment to broad consultation signal an intent for a genuinely inclusive process. All eyes will now be on the committee’s first actions and the initial progress report due in October 2025.
