The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga, has renewed his call for the full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, claiming it offers the best pathway to resolving Kenya’s political and governance crises.

Speaking at a public consultation forum in Jomvu, Mombasa County on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Raila emphasised that the NADCO report wasn’t negotiable for continued cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza government.

“I’m consulting all my party members… we find solutions to the problems bedevilling the country such as high cost of living, the Social Health Authority problems, abductions and devolution struggles and these are the things we want the government to address,” he stated.

He underscored that the report addressed core concerns raised by the youth, including economic hardship and police brutality.

“The youth who sustained injuries and parents of those who died in 2024 protests and the Gen Z protests of last year have to be compensated,” Raila stressed, arguing that compensation and justice were non-negotiable conditions for dialogue.

NADCO reactions

Earlier events at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre underlined his point.

“NADCO report contains many issues, which are at the heart of the people of Kenya today… If you see the issues raised by our youths, most of them are contained in the Nadco report,” he said.

The NADCO report, produced after post-election unrest in 2023, includes a range of governance reforms: an audit of the 2022 electoral process, restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), extending Supreme Court petition timelines, creating the offices of Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition, and devolving more resources to county governments.

A bipartisan accord signed in March 2025 formalised Raila’s cooperation with President William Ruto, including a commitment to implement NADCO. However, critics like Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah dismissed the report as a distraction from fully implementing the 2010 Constitution.

With the country experiencing renewed street protests—driven by youth dissatisfaction over corruption, unemployment, and alleged police violence—the stakes are high. The youth-led ‘Gen Z’ protests of 2024 and the Azimio demonstrations in 2023 resulted in fatalities and injuries, raising public demands for accountability.

Raila framed the implementation of NADCO as the bridge between public agitation and durable reform.

 “This isn’t just about money—it’s a non‑negotiable condition for talks… such incidents should not be happening in our country,” he emphasised.

The call comes as the Movement for the Defense of Democracy lobby also urged both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio to act on the report, affirming it contains nationwide solutions. Meanwhile, leaders such as Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei backed proposals to create new offices in line with NADCO’s vision.