Oliver Mathenge And Odhiambo Orlale
9 April 2008
Nairobi — Government coalition MPs yesterday supported the dissolution of the current Cabinet to pave the way for the formation of a lean grand coalition government.
The MPs, who held a four-hour parliamentary group meeting, also called on the ODM team to drop pre-conditions that were standing in the way of the formation of the Cabinet.
His decisions
According to Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who chaired the meeting, the MPs had also resolved to support President Kibaki in all his decisions, adding that the Head of State was under no pressure with regard to the formation of the Cabinet.
"Even if the President decides to dissolve Parliament today, the PG will stand by him," said Mr Musyoka.
The VP also asked the President to take charge and act in accordance to the powers vested upon him by the Constitution to break the Cabinet deadlock.
He also said that the meeting supported President Kibaki's Monday evening statement, which was in favour of a quick resolution of the Cabinet crisis.
The meeting
The meeting was attended by most of the pro-government MPs, but notably absent were Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his Roads counterpart John Michuki.
The move by pro-government MPs to support a lean Cabinet seemed to be re-ignite the dilemma of numbers, which had earlier served to stall the formation of the grand coalition Cabinet.
The Government coalition had earlier indicated its support for a 44-member Cabinet, which was later reduced to 40 after President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga met last week.
At the time, Mr Odinga's ODM team was in favour of a 36-member Cabinet, up from their previous number of 34.
Even before the VP briefed the media about the meeting, two MPs had already given indications that the Government MPs were in favour of a 20-member Cabinet.
Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, while walking out of the meeting, said that the MPs would respect the President's decision on the number of Cabinet ministers.
Kangundo MP and deputy chief whip Johnston Muthama said that they were in favour of a leaner Cabinet since this has been the message sent out by Kenyans.
At the same time, the Government MPs also said that the civil service should not be politicised.
Mr Musyoka defended the Head of Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, saying that he had always acted in accordance with the President's directive.
The Mwingi North MP also said that the formation of the new Cabinet should not hold back the resettlement of the over 300,000 uprooted families.
Meanwhile, pressure continued to mount on President Kibaki to dissolve his 17-member Cabinet and replace it with a grand coalition Cabinet.
A lobby group, Release Political Prisoners Trust, appealed to the President and Mr Odinga to call for fresh elections if they could not name a lean, and efficient grand coalition Cabinet.
Heed the cries
A statement signed by Mr Stephen Musau, the lobby's coordinator, said: "In the spirit of national peace and reconciliation, the two principals must rise above their acquaintances and heed the cries of Kenyans."
Mr Musau expressed concern that the two leaders had been pulling apart and causing a lot of tension and confusion among Kenyans, as they continued to listen to their lieutenants.
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