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Kenya: Meeting of Kibaki With His Team Delays Annan Talks
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The Nation (Nairobi)
23 February 2008
Posted to the web 25 February 2008
Lucas Barasa and Muchemi Wachira
Nairobi
President Kibaki held a meeting with the Government team of negotiators Friday morning, delaying mediation talks being chaired by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.
The President also met a team he appointed last month to spearhead peace and reconciliation efforts in the country following the outbreak of post-election violence.
The latter team is headed by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who flew out of Nairobi Friday morning to Kigali, Rwanda.
The Kalonzo-led team includes the attorney-general, Mr Amos Wako, the minister for Finance, Mr Amos Kimunya, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua, Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Mr Moses Wetang'ula of Foreign Affairs, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta of Local Government, and Mr George Saitoti of the Internal Security ministry.
Mr Ludeki Chweya and Geoffrey Kibaara were appointed joint secretaries of the team, which is yet to start work.
The meeting, which took place at Harambee House, sources said, centred on the progress of the Annan talks.
Of major concern to the team, sources said, was the creation of a prime minister's post as agreed during the talks.
Two centres of power
The sources said the Government side was concerned that the premier's post may create two centres of power in government.
MPs allied to the Government had on Wednesday taken a position during their Government Coalition Parliamentary Group meeting.
They had vowed that there will be no power-sharing in the format being proposed by the mediators and people from several quarters, including western powers.
The Government MPs' suggestion was that ODM should only be accommodated by being apportioned few Cabinet posts.
"In the document brought forward by Mr Annan and his team, the powers proposed to be given to the prime minister make him a very powerful person such that he can undermine the President," the sources said.
ODM and PNU negotiators have since agreed in principle on the creation of a prime minister's post, two deputy prime ministers and the inclusion of ODM members in Cabinet.
However, during Friday's meeting, the sources said, the ministers insisted that the prime minister's position should be ceremonial and that no powers should be ceded by the presidency.
The leaders maintained that the President should enjoy the powers bestowed on him by the Constitution for five years.
They urged PNU negotiators to be firm at the talks and ensure PNU interests carried the day.
The meeting at Harambee House ended shortly before noon, holding up the Annan talks for hours.
The negotiating teams had agreed on Thursday to delay Friday's session to 11am to allow time to consult with their constituents on the draft joint proposal.
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The Legal Working Group members include Ms Karua and Mr Kilonzo on behalf of PNU. ODM side has Mr William Ruto and Mr James Orengo. They were to meet from 8.30am to conclude their work before reporting to the full negotiating team from 10am Friday.
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