President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga will on Monday, August 18, jointly chair a parliamentary group meeting bringing together lawmakers from Kenya Kwanza and ODM in a rare display of political unity.
The session, scheduled in Nairobi, aims to strengthen national cohesion, coordinate joint policy initiatives, and review progress on the 10-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two sides in March.
According to President Ruto, the meeting will seek “strong mechanisms to unite the country and push it forward.” Speaking in Migori on Thursday, he noted that the cooperation between ODM and Kenya Kwanza was designed to foster inclusivity and create policies that boost the nation’s income.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed confirmed the gathering, saying MPs will address pressing issues, including support for communities affected by recent protests.
The meeting will also evaluate the work of a five-member technical committee, chaired by Agnes Zani, which was established to oversee the MoU’s implementation. Other members include Fatuma Ibrahim, Kevin Kiarie, Gabriel Oguda, and Javas Bigambo.
A joint secretariat, co-led by executive secretaries from both UDA and ODM, has been set up to support the committee’s operations. In a statement, Ruto and Raila announced that the committee will be “fully funded and facilitated by both UDA and ODM” and will conduct wide-ranging consultations with government agencies, independent commissions, civil society, religious groups, and the private sector to ensure the MoU reflects the needs of all Kenyans.
The technical team has already begun its work and is expected to submit progress reports to Ruto and Raila every two months, with quarterly updates presented to the joint parliamentary group.