David Ohito, Steve Mkawale And Alex Kiprotich
9 April 2008
Nairobi — Power-sharing wrangles have shifted from the formation of a Cabinet to prime positions in the Civil Service, State corporations and foreign missions.
ODM has accused the Government of "panic procurement". Party leader, Mr Raila Odinga, said they were concerned that contracts of top civil servants and parastatal chiefs were being extended arbitrarily.
The Orange party also claimed that contracts and tenders were being awarded without consultation.
Consequently, the party demanded that appointments be put on hold until the coalition Government was formed.
"We ask our colleagues to wait for the Grand Coalition Cabinet," said Raila.
Raila was addressing journalists after meeting diplomats from the European Union, Latin America and Brazil.
He reiterated that ODM would demand its equal share of permanent secretaries and parastatal directors.
"We are aware of massive transfers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The implementation of some actions that require Cabinet decisions are also being done arbitrarily," he said.
He added: "Let nobody tell us that the appointment of permanent secretaries is the function of Public Service Commission. When President Kibaki took over with Narc, three-quarters of permanent secretaries were sent home. The same measure must apply in the coalition."
Raila also spoke of "fishy extension of contracts" of parastatal heads, which he said would be difficult to undo when ODM joins Government.
Meanwhile, a section of Rift Valley leaders want former UN Secretary-General, Dr Kofi Annan return to unlock the Cabinet stalemate.
The MPs mainly drawn from ODM, said it was time President Kibaki called for fresh elections resolve the crisis.
At the same time, uncertainty gripped displaced people in Nakuru and Molo districts following news that the peace deal had collapsed.
"Shall we ever return to our homes if they continue to disagree?" posed Ms Mary Anyango, living at the Afraha Stadium camp.
Leaders said the deadlock over the formation of a grand coalition government heightened tension among various communities in the region.
Belgut MP, Mr Charles Keter, said only elections would solve the crisis because it was clear that PNU was not wiling to share power with ODM.
"We should face the problem and be bold enough and go to the ballot to solve this mess once and for all," he said.
Keter said the tension that was building up was not good for the country.
He also said that Parliament should no be convened because it would be chaotic like the one witnessed during the swearing-in of MPs.
"President Kibaki should do the honourable thing and dissolve Parliament if he cannot honour the peace accord," he said.
Baringo North MP, Mr William Cheptumo, said it was clear that PNU was determined to frustrate the implementation of the accord.
He said leaders should stop safeguarding selfish interests. "Leaders are playing with fire and they should be ready to take responsibility if the country experiences instability because of their greed," he said.
He said the President could salvage the situation if he abandoned his hardline allies. Chepalungu MP, Mr Isaac Ruto, blamed PNU for the stalemate saying it treated ODM as a junior member in the coalition.
He said the Cabinet ought to be formed by the PM-designate, as is the norm in all coalition governments.
Accord is clear
"It is always the Prime Minister with the majority MPs who form the Cabinet and not vice versa as the PNU team wants it to be done," he said. Baringo Central MP, Mr Sammy Mwaita, said international poll experts should be called into the country to oversee a re-run in the presidential vote.
"We have shown that we cannot even agree on the most straight forward things and it is time we seek fresh mandate from the electorate," he said.
Mogotio MP, Prof Hellen Sambili, said the two principals should be honest to each other and implement the peace accord.
"The accord is very clear on who should do what and the leaders must be honest and implement it," she said.
MPs, Mr Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru Town) and ODM Nominated legislator, Mr Musa Sirma asked the two principals to reach an agreement.
"Tension is building among communities in the region and the two principals must live up to the spirit of the agreement they signed," said Kinyanjui.
The PNU MP challenged the President and the ODM leader to first name Cabinet positions they had agreed on and later deliberate on the remaining ones.
Sirma said Annan must be recalled to end the stalemate since the two leaders had failed to agree on the cabinet positions.
"The current situations require an arbitrator. The talks have collapsed and the situation on the ground is not good," said the MP.
He said ODM had ceded a lot of ground and it was time for PNU to walk an extra mile to meet its coalition partner.
"This should be a give and take deal. Kibaki must dissolve the current Cabinet and form a new one," said the former Eldama Ravine MP.
Nakuru deputy mayor John Kitilit said the collapse of the talks had caused renewed tension among the many tribes living in the region.
"We do not want a repeat of the violence witnessed in the past two months. The leaders must not allow themselves to be manipulated by senior civil servants and a few greedy MPs," said Kitilit.
Rongai ODM chairman, Mr Kenneth Kamuren, said it was difficult for displaced people to return to their homes.
"There is tension in farms where people were forced to flee. Many now feel that the President and the PM-designate were taking them for a ride," said Kamuren.
A number of people interviewed on the streets of Nakuru and Molo said they were disappointed by the latest development.
"We want to settle down and continue with our lives. Why are these leaders so selfish?" posed Mr Peter Kariuki, a shoe shiner on Nakuru's Kenyatta Avenue.
Molo-based pyrethrum farmer, Mr Samuel Kihiu, said farmers were fed up by the delay in the naming of the Cabinet.
"Many of us want to settle down and try to make ends meet. We are tired of the games our leaders are playing on us," said Kihiu. Uncertainty gripped camps for displaced people in Afraha Stadium and the Nakuru Showground.
Displaced people expressed their disappointment over the collapse of the talks.
"These people do not have the interests of the common man at heart. They are selfish and do not care about our plight," said Ms Mary Njoki, camping at Nakuru Showground.
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