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Kenya: We Want Steak, Not Bones, Says ODM
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The Nation (Nairobi)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 26 March 2008
Caroline Wafula And Odhiambo Orlale
Nairobi
The Orange Democratic Movement will not accept "fringe" ministries in implementation of the power sharing deal.
Party chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo said the party "will not eat bones while the others are eating all steak".
Mr Midiwo, who was accompanied by three other MPs, also warned of growing anxiety among Kenyans over delay in naming the Cabinet.
Four MPs blamed President Kibaki and their leader, Mr Raila Odinga, for the anxiety.
"The two leaders are not embracing the spirit of national accord," said Mr Midiwo, who cautioned them against going ahead with their trip to Rift Valley before naming the Cabinet.
"They should first demonstrate to the nation that they are capable of implementing what has been agreed upon in law," he stated.
He was accompanied by Mr Otieno Kajwang' of Mbita, Mr Calist Mwatela (Mwatate) and Mr Aden Duale from Dujis.
They accused President Kibaki of acting against the Constitution by delaying to instal Mr Odinga officially to the office of PM.
Mr Odinga, according to the Orange party team, was now the Prime Minister following amendment of the Constitution. Mr Odinga's appointment to the office by the President was therefore both technical and ceremonial.
"It is not in the interest of the nation that the country can continue to be governed without a full and legitimate Cabinet," said Mr Mwatela.
Elsewhere, lobby groups proposed a 24-member Cabinet which, they reckon, would be more efficient than the 40-plus one suggested by PNU.
Officials of the National Civil Society Congress sent their proposal to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga, asking them to leave out MPs tainted by corruption and those involved in election-related violence.
They opposed the creation of ministries to satisfy the interests of coalition partners as the posts would be a burden on taxpayers.
Mr Duale warned that a bloated Cabinet would kill the strength of the backbench since there was no Opposition in Parliament.
The civil society representatives - Harun Ndubi, Anne Njogu, Cyprian Nyamwamu and Sam Ongoro - also opposed a bloated Cabinet. They proposed a 24-member Cabinet selected on merit and gender parity.
They described as ridiculous and a waste of public resources plans to constitute a 40-member Cabinet.
The group noted that even rich countries such as the US and Germany had less than 20 ministers.
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They named the 24 ministries as Environment, Nature and Conservation; Foreign Affairs; Economics and Planning; Defence; Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Gender and Youth; and Internal Affairs to be headed by one of the deputy PMs.
The other ministries are Education and Research, Northern Kenya Development to be headed by the other deputy PM, Land and Settlements, Health; Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Consumer Protection; Finance; Labour and Social Affairs; Transport; Public Works, Infrastructure, Building and Urban Affairs; Economic Cooperation; East African Cooperation and Development; Justice and Constitutional Affairs; and Commerce and Industry.
Also suggested were the ministries of Energy, Communication and Information, Natural Resources, Wildlife, Fisheries and Mining, Public Enterprises and Regional Development; Tourism and the Attorney General.
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