The East African Standard (Nairobi)
14 April 2008
President Kibaki finally unveiled the much-awaited Grand Coalition Cabinet on Sunday that was received with mixed reactions.
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When the much awaited Grand coalition was named on Sunday by President Kibaki, Kenyans could not help but notice that portfolio balance had not been observed. Could it be that Kibaki adamantly refused to accept the same by not dissolving his 17 member initial Party of National Unity (PNU) cabinet? 40 cabinet ministers were appointed together with 50 assistants summing it up at 90! Tax payers are once again trapped as they will have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for fuel guzzlers the “very” honorable members of August House shall have acquired. Maybe Kenyans will go hungry or sacrifice their health to provide luxury for our “lovely” MPs who are among the highest paid in the world. A rich country Kenya is indeed! Kibaki’s key allies retained the key dockets like Finance, Internal security, Defense, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs. He made sure all the flesh was served to his cronies. A well calculated move. It was also interesting to note that other key ministries like Education and Health were curved and divided between the two rival factions. This way they ensured any little flesh given to ODM would be eaten by PNU as well. Did anyone read mischief? Many Kenyans found this move rather calculated for selfish motives and not for the interest of common mwanainchi, Many Kenyans have raised the red flag over the same. Raila wake up,Emilio is hoodwinking you as common citizens.
wow CHOKORA you must be one of those who were saying NO ODINGA NO PEACE im i wrong?
Firstly: There was no need for negotiation. The people gave the ODM a mandate to govern them. There are NO negotiations with the losers in elections in USA, UK, ....
Secondly: Even if the ODM wished to sabotage the will of the people, why would they cede the ministries that are critical to addressing issues that drove the people to give it the overwhelmimng mandate - tribalism/majimbo/corruption(Finance), insecurity/mungiki(Defence, Internal Security), corruption/prosecutions/constitution(Justice and Constitutional Affairs), Mungiki_propaganda(Informnation and Communication)?
[And indeed, ODM, Kaura was placed at the center of the effort that corrupted Kenya's electoral process - which resulted in the current chaos and thousands of Kenyans dead. She has the blood of Kenyans on her hands - not that it bothers her Mungiki self. Why is she perched on a ministry instead of on a bench in jail awaiting trial and execution? When can the people expect justice, ODM?]
ODm has been hesitant. It seems that ODM has lost in going head-to-head with tribalist Kibaki (when it had the people's mandate not to) - and thereby lost its stated ideological relevance.
From now on the ODM will be viewed by the people - and presented by the Kibaki's regime ministry propagandists - as part of the tribalism, insecurity, corruption and excesses that will descend upon Kenya. How does Raila intend to dissociate himself and his group from being mailgned by this Mungiki group that intends to see Uhuru lead the GEMA supremacy in Kenya beyond the year 2012?
Raila owes the people a public explanation and assurance. [And I doubt that the Mungiki that control communication will accord him the opportunity. Collective responsibility, they are already shouting. Poor neutered ODM!]