Anthony Kariuki
13 April 2008
Nairobi — President Kibaki has named ODM leader Raila Odinga the Prime Minister in a 40-member grand coalition Cabinet.
The announcement has come after weeks of tense negotiations between the two leaders.
President Kibaki, accompanied by Mr Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, announced the new Cabinet in a live address to the nation from State House, Nairobi.
President Kibaki said that the new cabinet will move fast to heal the nation.
"The new Cabinet will prioritise resettlement of displaced persons so that they can resume their normal lives and play their part in nation building."
Gatundu South MP Uhuru Kenyatta and his Sabatia counterpart Musalia Mudavadi of the government coalition and ODM respectively are the new deputy prime ministers.
Apart from their new postings, Uhuru and Mudavadi were also handed Trade and Local Government dockets respectively.
Pentagon members William Ruto (Agriculture), Charity Ngilu (Water), Najib Balala (Tourism) and Joe Nyaga (Cooperatives) make the list.
As expected, the government retained the powerful portfolios: Finance (Amos Kimunya ), Justice and Constitutional Affairs (Martha Karua), Defence (Yusuf Haji) and Internal Security ( Prof George Saitoti).
Of the contentious ministries - at the centre of the delayed naming of the Cabinet - Foreign Affairs, Roads, Transport, Energy and Local Government, ODM only filled Roads (Kipkalya Kones) and Local Government (Musalia Mudavadi).
The new-look Cabinet now comprises of : President, Vice President, Prime Minister, two deputy prime ministers and other ministers.
Prime Minister Odinga becomes only the second person to hold the office after Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, served a short stint in the same capacity at the dawn of Independence.
He will have power to coordinate and supervise other ministries.
The naming of the new Cabinet comes against a backdrop of sustained pressure from the International Community, the Church, civil society, politicians and the Kenyan public on the two leaders to agree on a final list.
Kenya was thrown into a political turmoil after the December 27 presidential election failed to produce a clear winner. The violence that followed left more than 1,000 people dead, over 350,000 displaced and property worth billions of shillings destroyed.
It took the intervention of the international community, acting through the African Union, to broker a peace deal between the two leaders in an effort led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
The announcement comes as a relief to the thousand of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) -uprooted from their homes after violence broke out in the wake of disputed presidential results - living in tented camps countrywide, who are keen on a political settlement so that they return to their homes.
Full Cabinet list
Office of the President
Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security
Minister: Prof George Saitoti
Assistant Ministers: Simon Lesirma and Joshua Orwa Ojode
Ministry of State for Defence
Minister: Yusuf Haji
Assistant Ministers: David Musila and Joseph Nkaisserry
Office of the Vice President
Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs: Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka
Assistant Minister: Lorna Laboso
Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons
Minister: Gerald Otieno Kajwang'
Assistant Minister: Francis Baya
Ministry of State for National Heritage & Culture:
Minister: William ole Ntimama
Assistant Minister: Joel Onyancha Omagwa
Office of the Prime Minister:
Prime Minister: Raila Amollo Odinga
Assistant Minister: Alfred Khang'ati
Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030:
Minister: Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya
Assistant Minister: Peter Kenneth
Ministry of State for Public Service:
Minister: Dalmas Anyango Otieno
Assistant Minister: Aden Ahmed Sugow
Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Trade:
Deputy PM and Minister for Trade: Uhuru Kenyatta
Assistant Minister: James Omingo Magara
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government
Deputy PM and Minister for Local Government: Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi
Assistant Minister: Robison Njeru Githae
Ministry of East African Community
Minister: Amason Kingi Jeffah
Assistant Minister: Peter Munya
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Moses Wetangula
Assistant Minister: Richard Momoima Onyonka
Ministry of Finance
Minister: Amos Kimunya
Assistant Minister: Dr. Oburu Oginga
Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs
Minister: Martha Karua
Assistant Minister: William Cheptumo Kipkorir
Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Developmen t
Minister: Mutula Kilonzo
Assistant Minister: Elizabeth Ongoro Masha
Ministry of Roads
Minister: Kipkalya Kones
Assistant Ministers: Wilfred Machage and Lee Kinyanjui
Ministry of Public Works
Minister: Chris Obure
Assistant Minister: Dickson Wathika Mwangi
Ministry of Transport
Minister: Chirau Ali Makwere
Assistant Minister: John Harun Mwau
Ministry of Water and Irrigation
Minister: Charity Kaluki Ngilu
Assistant Minister: Mwangi Kiunjuri
Ministry of Regional Development Authorities
Minister: Fredrick Omulo Gumo
Assistant Minister: Judah Katoo ole Metito
Ministry of Information & Communications
Minister: Samuel Poghisio
Assistant Ministers: George Munyasa Khaniri and Dhadho Godhana
Ministry of Energy
Minister: Kiraitu Murungi
Assistant Ministers: Charles Keter and Maalim Mohamud Mohamed
Ministry of Lands
Minister: Aggrey James Orengo
Assistant Ministers: Silvester Wakoli Bifwoli and Samwel Gonzi Rai
Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
Minister: John Michuki
Assistant Ministers: Ramadhan Seif Kajembe and Jackson Kiplagati Kiptanui
Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
Minister: Noah Wekesa
Assistant Minister: Josphat Koli Nanok
Ministry of Tourism
Minister: Mohamed Najib Balala
Assistant Minister: Cecily Mtito Mbarire
Ministry of Agriculture
Minister: William Samoei Ruto
Assistant Ministers: Japhet Kareke Mbiuki and Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki
Ministry of Livestock Development
Minister: Mohamed Abdi Kuti
Assistant Minister: Bare Aden Duale
Ministry of Fisheries Development
Minister: Paul Nyongesa Otuoma
Assistant Minister: Mohamed Abu Abuchiaba
Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands
Minister: Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed
Assistant Minister: Hussein Tarry Sasura
Ministry of Cooperatives Development
Minister: Joseph Nyagah
Assistant Minister: Linah Jebii Kilimo
Ministry of Industrialisation
Minister: Henry Kiprono Kosgey
Assistant Minister: Ndiritu Murithi
Ministry of Housing
Minister: Peter Soita Shitanda
Assistant Minister: Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Kariuki
Ministry of Special Programmes
Minister: Dr. Naomi Namsi Shabani
Assistant Minister: Mohamed Muhamud Ali
Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs
Minister: Esther Murugi Mathenge
Assistant Minister Atanas Manyala Keya
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation
Minister: Beth Wambui Mugo
Assistant Minister: Dr. James Ondicho Gesami
Ministry of Medical Services
Minister: Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
Assistant Minister: Danson Buya Mungatana
Ministry of Labour
Minister: John Kiyonga Munyes
Assistant Minister: Sospeter Ojamaa Ojamong'
Ministry of Youth and Sports
Minister: Dr. Helen Jepkemoi Sambili
Assistant Ministers: Wavinya Ndeti and Kabando wa Kabando
Ministry of Education
Minister: Samson Kegeo Ongeri
Assistant Ministers: Prof. Patrick Ayiecho Olweny and Andrew Calist Mwatela
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Minister: Dr. Sally Jepngetich Kosgey
Assistant Ministers: Kilemi Mweria and Asman Abongotum Kamama
Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General: Amos Wako
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i think the same way, thats how kenyans problems has been always resolved without violance, congratulation to both of you
Will Odinga be content with his PM post- time will tell, but highly unlikely. Unless Odinga becomes President & PM, we will back to govt gridlock down the road.
Amazing! That Kibaki, the loser in elections2007, is gracious enough to appoint Raila, the winner, to anything? Are we to understand that if not for the magnanimity of Mungiki's Kibaki, then the people's Raila would be out in the cold?
And you are gleefully applauding that state of things? Do you think that the people who voted for the people's rainbow coalition to take control and guide them see it that same way?
Buddy, the worst is yet to come.
For decades, such has been the motto of your murderous Mungiki. Indeed Kibaki, Kenyatta, Karume, Karua and the rest of your bloody GEMA-supremacists will surely agree with you: "Where there is a will, there is always a way"
'... For decades, such has been the motto of your murderous Mungiki: "Where there is a will, there is always a way"'
It remains to be seen whether the Kenyans who expressed their desire for change by voting for the ODM will accept this betrayal of trust in ODM. Changes at times come about violently. Maybe the masses that saw their own killed by Kibaki and his Mungiki squads will persist in the pursuit their citizen rights and hold it true that "Where there is a will for change, there is always a way."
CHOKORA:i hope you dont want to take things to a level that you will never be able to resorve them again, you did not see it maybe but kanya was almost breaking in to a civil war just some months ago,so this is a big step for those who just want to live in peace and those who dont expect too much from the governement in their everyday life
'Thou Shalt Not Kill', this is a holy commandment that we all must live by, The Korn also speaks against indescriminate killing. Mungiki, SLDF, Taliban, Al Quaeda and all other militia groups that seek to terrorize the people at a local and international level are all WRONG for property destruction, horrific torures, rapes and murder. They must all be held to bbook, the civilians are suffereing untold horrrs having been displaced and separated from family and losing everything they have worked and lived for, no matter your political affiliation WRONG IS WRONG and RIGHT is RIGHT, both Kibaki and Raila OWE kenyans big time in stabilizing the country and establishing peace once and for all. We are FED-UP with this political wrangliing it is juvenile and costs the country economically we are plummeting towards our neighboring countries fate of war and destruction. Political divisions based on ethnic and tribal affiliations is divisive and unproductive for our nation which was once a beacon of hope for other nations to aspire to. It is time to get up as citizens and hold our leaders accountable, it is their JOB to ensure that Kenya remains stable economically, socially and politically. The blame game has got to stop, the leaders must be reminded that as public administrators they must function efficiently, effectively and be held accountable for the decisions they make. We as a peaople must ensure that our nation remains strong.
I think it was great thing for Kibaki and Raila to come together in agreement about the leadership of this nation. however, I have a feeling that there is more disaster awaiting than leadership disagreement as claimed by Chokora. Where will kenya be in the next five years especially considering the issue of Mungiki or is it National Youth Alliance? Can someone please tell me who these two names represent? Are they one and the same thing or is one an affliate of the other? If in case they are the same, why are the Mungiki termed unlawful outfit while the other as a political group? And how comes that a lawful sect can be an afflicate of unlawful one? who are the security agencies fight, the Mungiki or the National Youth Coalition? When I saw the National Youth Alliance spokeperson who is also referred as Mungiki representative come live of Tv and defended the actions of the angry youths said to be members of Mingiki, I got more confused? What is not happening here? Is it us or the police who are to fully informed? Which group is Raila planned to meet to negotiate the demands of Mungiki for the realise of their leader, Maina Njega? Why Raila and not Saitoti, the security minister? Why not Kibaki, the man of their tribe? Why did they stop their hostility after Raila asked for negotiation yet all along different government leaders had urged them for the same to no avail?
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Kudos to Kibaki and Raila Odinga, HAIL THE OUTSTANDING STATESMEN THAT AFRICA SHOULD BE PROUD OF. You have definitely made Africa proud and, without any doubt, all well-meaning Africans will wish your government every success. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY.!