Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has launched a blistering attack on DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, stripping the former Defence CS of the "moral authority" to demand the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

In a political undressing that exposes the widening rift between the government and opposition hardliners, Wandayi ridiculed Wamalwa’s recent agitation for the report’s execution. The CS’s rebuttal comes just 24 hours after Wamalwa and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka used the funeral of Beryl Achieng Odinga in Bondo to accuse the Kenya Kwanza administration of stalling on the bipartisan agreement.

The "Kilimani Hideout" Allegation

Wandayi, who sat alongside Wamalwa on the dialogue committee before his ascent to the Cabinet, did not mince his words. He painted a picture of a leader who abandoned the process at the critical eleventh hour, only to return now to claim political mileage.

“Wamalwa cannot have the moral authority to dictate how NADCO should be implemented,” Wandayi asserted, his tone sharp. “On the last day when we were signing the report, Wamalwa took off. He declined to sign, claiming he was driving to the DRC. Yet, we know he went and hid somewhere in Kilimani.”

This specific allegation—that a senior leader feigned an international trip to avoid a political commitment—adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. It suggests that Wamalwa’s refusal to sign was not just a principled stand on the cost of living, as previously claimed, but a calculated political maneuver.

The Cost of Stability

For the average Kenyan, this war of words is more than just political theater; it touches on the stability required to keep the economy breathing. The NADCO report was the ceasefire document that ended the destructive 2023 street protests, which cost the economy billions in lost revenue and disrupted supply chains.

• The Stake: Full implementation involves reconstituting the IEBC and addressing electoral justice—prerequisites for a peaceful 2027 election.
• The Contradiction: Wamalwa refused to sign the report in 2024, citing its failure to immediately lower the cost of food and fuel.
• The Reality: Now, he argues that the government is betraying the very document he rejected.

Wandayi also turned his guns on Kalonzo Musyoka, accusing the Wiper leader of selective amnesia regarding historical injustices. He challenged Kalonzo’s current demand for answers on police brutality, noting that similar incidents occurred while Kalonzo served as Vice President.

Implementation or Stalling?

While the opposition claims the report is gathering dust, the government insists the wheels are turning. The selection panel for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is already in place—a key recommendation of the talks. However, the tangible economic relief promised to Wanjiku remains a contentious point, with the cost of living still squeezing household budgets across the country.

“Kalonzo claims nothing has been implemented,” Wandayi countered. “Yet we know the IEBC process is moving, with a nominee from his own camp sitting on the panel.”

As the political temperature rises, the question remains: Is the opposition fighting for the people's welfare, or are they positioning themselves for the next electoral cycle using a document they once despised?