8 April 2008
Nairobi — ODM has suspended talks with President Kibaki's PNU until the latter agrees to share power fairly.
"We have resolved that negotiations be suspended until PNU fully recognises the 50/50 power-sharing arrangement and the principle of portfolio balance," Anyang' Nyong'o, ODM secretary-general said in a press conference moments after the party held a joint parliamentary group and national executive council meeting.
"It is now likely clear to the country that PNU is reluctant to honour the Accord in the first place," adds ODM statement.
But PNU urged ODM leader to reconsider their position saying Kenyans need to forge ahead with development activities.
The two main political parties and their allies have been holding separate parliamentary group meetings to ostensibly brief their members on the progress and issues vexing the formation of grand coalition government.
Earlier, Prime Minister-designate, Raila Odinga, said that there must be a shared understanding on the interpretation of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act before he can resume face-to-face talks with President Kibaki. Speaking after meeting a delegation of European Union and Latin American ambassadors, Raila said ODM was awaiting a written response from the president on a letter he sent to him on Monday.
ODM and PNU differ fundamentally on the interpretation of the Act, especially with regard to shared responsibility in appointing of permanent secretaries, ambassadors and other government officers.
Vice President and leader of government business Kalonzo Musyoka emerged from a meeting of PNU and coalition legislators at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in the afternoon with a reconciliatory message.
While urging ODM to drop all the preconditions, Kalonzo absolved his PNU colleagues from accusations that they were preventing formation of grand coalition Cabinet for fear of losing their cabinet positions.
Sounding optimistic that the stalemate would be resolved, Kalonzo asked Kenyans to desist from politicising public service.
He also revealed that the meeting resolved pact Kibaki should Parliament be dissolved.
On Monday, ODM accused PNU of engaging in mind games on a matter of immense public importance.
But PNU insisted the blame for the delay in naming a new Cabinet lay with ODM. It also accused ODM of scheming to take over power instead of sharing as stipulated in the Act.
PNU also went to great length to remind ODM that in spite of the recently signed National Accord and Reconciliation Act, executive power still lay with the President. On its part, ODM added a raft of new terms of engagement with PNU, making the much-awaited coalition Cabinet a mirage.
The Orange party now wants Kibaki to dissolve his 17-member half Cabinet. They also walked back on the bloated 40-member Cabinet deal and now insist on 34.
In their letter ODM reminded Kibaki that "the composition of the grand coalition shall at all times reflect the relative parliamentary strength of the respective parties and shall at all times take into account the principle of portfolio balance" as contained in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act.
But the Presidents' reply did not seem to make matters any better. Kibaki, in his letter to Odinga, said "the President under the current constitution which was not amended has the constitutional responsibility of any of the business of government of Kenya by allocating portfolios to ministers."
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