The Interior Ministry currently under Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has suffered a setback after members of parliament rejected a push to create a new peace commission.

In a statement shared by the Parliament of Kenya on Friday night November 15, 2024, the National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities unanimously opposed the proposal arguing that the plans by the Interior Ministry to establish the National Peacebuilding Commission (NPC) are misplaced and duplication of roles.

The MPs made the recommendation following their meeting in Mombasa with the National Commission and Integration Commission (NCIC).

NCIC in their report indicated that the proposed Commission would also be responsible for managing the Peace Building Fund.

“The proposals are contained in a report drafted by the Committee of experts established and funded by the Interior Ministry to come up with the document,” the NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia told the Committee.

“Drafting of the report was initiated by the UNPD who mandated the Interior ministry to take charge of the process. NCIC were only invited to present their views to the Committee of experts just like any other entities,” he added.

The MPs were further informed that the proposed commission seeks to empower national peacebuilding institutions to undertake ambitious, sustained nationwide initiatives to educate Kenyans, especially youths about their rights, roles and responsibilities in peacebuilding among other proposals.

Financial burden

However, the MPs maintained that despite the great ideas contained in the proposal, the country is not ready to bankroll the creation of another commission.

The vice Chairperson of the committee Liza Chelule stated that some proposals in the report were good at enhancing peace and integration but the creation of the new Commission was ill-advised.

“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,” Nakuru County MP noted.

Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino on his side detailed that instead of creating another commission, the government should empower the NCIC.

“These businesses of creating new Commissions that don’t serve Kenyans adequately has caused a lot of discomfort among citizens. Creating a new Commission yet we have NCIC will cause jitters among Kenyans,” he insisted.

“The focus should be on enhancing funding for NCIC who are currently malnourished because they are starving financially.”

Teso North MP Oku Kaunya said setting up a new Commission will have serious financial implications. He noted that it is Kenyans who will be forced to carry the financial burden.

“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 organisations,” he explained.

Other MPs sitting in the committee also expressed their reservations maintaining that there is no need for another commission at this time.