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Kenya: Grand Coalition Cabinet Sworn in
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
18 April 2008
Posted to the web 17 April 2008
Patrick Wachira
Nairobi
The Grand Coalition Cabinet is now complete, after Orange Democratic Party ministers and their assistants were sworn in at State House, Nairobi, in a historic ceremony Thursday.
President Kibaki speaks during the ceremony that also saw the swearing in of Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
The ministers now join their Party of National Unity counterparts and those from other small parties to form what President Kibaki called a unified Government devoid of divisions.
And foreign envoys accredited to Kenya described Thursday's development as a milestone, but called for caution in implementing the remaining phases of the peace deal brokered by former UN chief, Dr Kofi Annan, on February 28.
The unity of purpose demonstrated by the two leaders was taken a notch higher when the Head of the Civil Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, led the ministers and their assistants in taking their oath of office.
US Ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, and his Germany counterpart, Mr Walter Lindner, said the ceremony was a milestone. They, however, added that the rest of the peace deal should be followed.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga takes the oath of office during the swearing in ceremony at State House, Nairobi, Thursday.
Indeed, Ranneberger announced a $25 million (Sh1.5 billion) grant to Kenya to help resettle those displaced during the post-election violence. Kibaki and Raila were unanimous that there were no two centres of power in the country as they aim for greater heights of development for the sake of the people.
Said Raila: "Hakuna pembe mbili sasa katika serikali. Tutakuwa pamoja na kuendeleza mambo ya serikali ili kupata mendeleo" (there are no two centres of power but a unified government keen on development for its people).
Kibaki underscored the need for Kenyans to forget the events that followed the December election and strive to better their lot through hard work, diligence and unity.
The President said the coalition Government would marshal public concerns on the "few outstanding issues" that had stood in the way of a new constitution and ensure it is concluded in the next 12 months.
The Prime Minister echoed his sentiments, saying it was possible to write a new constitution in a year.
The Government would turn the economy round that had been slowed down in the past three months due to post-election violence to attain the 10 per cent mark in two to three years.
Yesterday's ceremony was attended by Annan, who flew in on Wednesday, as well as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who jetted into the country yesterday and was driven to State House when the function was already underway.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi taking the oath.
Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, who was the master of ceremonies, congratulated Annan, Kibaki and Raila and all those who had made peace possible.
He recalled the mayhem that rocked the country after the election, but said with the coalition Government, peace had returned.
Others present were former Presidents Moi and Malawi's Bakili Muluzi, Burundi's First Vice-President, Mr Ivsa Viziguvu, Tanzania's Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Kayaza, Rwanda's Prime Minister, Mr Bernard Makuza, and Southern Sudan's Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Mr Luka Monoja.
Others were former Vice-President, Mr Moody Awori, House Speaker, Mr Kenneth Marende, Police Commissioner, Mr Hussein Ali, Administration Police Commandant, Mr Kinuthia Mbugua, Service Commanders, ambassadors, heads of parastatals, permanent secretaries and top Government officials.
In his speech, Annan told Kibaki and Raila: "You are on an important journey: Stay the course."
Annan lamented that peace was not taken seriously in many instances.
"We tend to treat peace the way we treat our health: We seldom take it seriously. We take it for granted until we lose it," he said.
Raila, on his part, said he was humbled and happy that the day had come when he would stop being referred to as "Prime Minister designate".
He paid tribute to President Kibaki for showing statesmanship and said: "The grand coalition is not two in one. It is now one coalition Government."
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The life of institutions, he said, was larger than that of individuals.
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