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Kenya: Government 'Clarification' Raises Fears New Deal Could Unravel
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Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
11 March 2008
Posted to the web 11 March 2008
Nairobi
The opposition swiftly rejected a statement by the government on Monday detailing a new political power structure, following the signing of a power-sharing agreement to end Kenya's post-election crisis.
The deal, reached after long and delicate negotiations, was understood to lead to creation of a coalition government in which President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga shared power on a 50-50 basis. Odinga would become Prime Minister with substantial executive powers.
But the power structure announced by the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service, Francis Muthaura, suggests that practically all executive powers will remain with the president, with the prime minister only occupying the third most powerful perch in the land.
Muthaura said the president will continue to be the head of state and government, while the vice-president will be his principal assistant and the leader of government business in parliament.
"The Prime Minister will coordinate and supervise the Government functions under the authority of the President. The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers will also have ministerial portfolios.
"The President will appoint the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and all Ministers subject to the terms of the Accord. The Vice-President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and all Ministers are directly responsible to the President. The President will continue to chair the Cabinet."
Muthaura further said that contrary to media speculation, there will be no sharing of public service jobs. The president will continue to make government appointments.
ODM immediately rejected Muthaura's statement as "mischievous and unacceptable." It was an attempt to drag the country back "to the period of mayhem, violence and disruption by retrogressive forces bent on resisting change."
"Any statement clarifying, interpreting or explaining the content of the national Accord must be jointly released by the two principals - Kibaki and Raila," ODM said.
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Parliament on Tuesday began debating tow proposed laws to legitimise the terms of the power-sharing agreement.
Such rash comments are a recipi for more bloodshed, Mr. muthaura should avoid being responsible for more deaths by such comments.
I am deeply angered by the irresponsible statement made by the Cabinet Secretary on the power sharing deal.One thing he is failing to realise is that Kibaki is not the legitimate President of Kenya but to avoid further bloodshed, serious minded people have helped brokered a deal to share power.However, this vampire(blood thirsty)of Mr.Muthaura is talking thrash about the structure of the deal.Please tell him to shot up and wait for parliament to come up with sober thoughts and not his disjointed and inarticulate ones.
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