Anthony Kariuki
24 February 2008
Nairobi — The Government side in the Annan-led mediated talks has said no agreement has been reached on four contentious issues.
The negotiators sought to clarify the sticking points in light of what they said was a growing trend of misleading reports on the progress of the peace talks.
Justice minister Martha Karua, Education minister Prof Sam Ongeri, Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula and Mbooni MP Mutula Kilonzo sit on the government side of the mediated talks.
They were all present at Sunday's news conference at Harambee House, Nairobi.
They said that the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee, comprising the government, the Opposition and Annan-led team of Eminent Persons, had yet to agree on: Equal share of ministries between Government and ODM; that the Prime Minister should have a supervisory role; that elections shall follow if the coalition under discussion collapses and anchoring the Act in the Constitution.
It is this last issue that has been most contentious with ODM holding the view that any deal will have to be entrenched in the constitution through an amendment in Parliament.
The government has now said that their position "has always been that any agreement reached shall be in accordance and consistent with the current Constitution," said the press statement.
The Government side has said there is agreement on: Establishment of the office of Prime Minister and two Deputies who shall be appointed by the President; Prime Minister will co-ordinate performance of government ministries and perform any other duties assigned by the President and the Coalition will cease if the Tenth Parliament is dissolved, the Coalition parties agree in writing or one Coalition partner withdraws from the coalition by a resolution of the highest decision making organ of the party in writing.
"All other issues are under negotiation to which end various proposals by the parties are on the table for discussion," the statement concludes.
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