Emman Omari
4 March 2008
Nairobi — President Kibaki is set to meet ODM leader Raila Odinga today as the first step towards the formation of a new coalition Government.
President Kibaki and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka leave KICC after a Parliamentary Group meeting on Monday. Photo/CHRIS OJOW
The two are likely to discuss the structure of the expanded coalition and when it is likely to be formed once Parliament passes the necessary laws.
Sources close to the President said today's meeting will be an informal one bringing the two leaders together for the first time since they signed a power-sharing agreement last Thursday.
The deal was sealed after mediation led by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also the African Union chairman.
Mr Odinga's aides also confirmed today's meeting scheduled for 10.30am at Harambee House.
Mbooni MP Mutula Kilonzo said PNU Members of Parliament and those of affiliate parties yesterday endorsed the agreement between the President and Mr Odinga and pledged to support a constitutional amendment to implement the deal once debate opens in Parliament.
Signals of how fast the new Government could be formed became evident yesterday when Mr Odinga said: "We will have a coalition Government in the next two weeks."
Speaking in Mombasa, the ODM leader also hinted that MPs from PNU and ODM were likely to hold a joint parliamentary group meeting before Parliament enacts two crucial Bills that will formalise the coalition.
Yesterday, President Kibaki chaired a Parliamentary Group meeting of PNU, and ODM Kenya MPs at the KICC.
The meeting followed the President's talks with his Cabinet.
President Kibaki used the meeting to prepare the MPs for the enactment of the two Bills and the formation of the new government.
Under the peace agreement, the posts of Prime Minister and two deputies will be created while PNU and ODM would share Cabinet posts on a 50-50 basis.
On Saturday, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said more ODM-Kenya MPs will also benefit from Cabinet appointments.
But the question of sharing ministries is being closely guarded by all sides.
It was also not clear whether the 17 ministers already appointed will be shuffled to accommodate the "portfolio balance" stipulated in the deal.
Yesterday, Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi said it would be wrong for Kenyans to start "putting names to ministries".
"The issue of portfolio balance or sharing of ministries can be best left to the two principals who will arrive at their own decision," said Mr Mudavadi. But sources said there was a likelihood of having a Cabinet of 36 ministers instead of usual 33 to give 18 slots to each of the two sides.
Mr Mutula said the sharing of ministerial positions was a welcome move considering the difficulties Kenya faced in last two months.
But he added: "We should return to multi-party democracy as early as possible."
Mr Kilonzo and Ugenya MP James Orengo told journalists at Serena Hotel that the drafts of the two Bills were ready, and that Attorney-General Amos Wako was expected to publish them any time from today.
President Kibaki will perform the State Opening of Parliament on Thursday.
The House will then adjourn to resume on Tuesday when MPs are expected to pass a motion to shorten debate on the President's speech to embark on the two Bills meant to create the posts of Prime Minister and his deputies and to legitimise the new coalition.
And yesterday, Mr Odinga said: "Our two teams are working on the Bills and frameworks to be entrenched in the Constitution".
He said that once the new Government is formed, there should be no fear among the displaced people who have had to live under the dark shadow of hostility and suspicion since 1991.
The deal signed by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga on Thursday ended two months of violence sparked by the disputed presidential election results.
Violence erupted across the country shortly before ECK declared President Kibaki winner of the election, a verdict contested by ODM. Over 1,200 people were killed in the protests also blamed on land grievances. Another 350,000 were displaced.
President Kibaki has since said that those whose houses were burnt will be helped to rebuild them while farmers will be provided with seeds ahead of the planting season.
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the agreement between mwaikibaaki and raila odinga is good hope for kenyans to live in peace and imust thank you all for allowing this to happen because iwas verymuch concerned about the current crisis in kenya mohamud of usa
its a good thing they are making because this will be of help to the coun try and to the society also. i would say that they keep the same spirit they are doing and may God in deed bless them as they keep this country in peace.