Wilfred Muchire And Oscar King'ori
28 April 2008
Nairobi — The interpretation of the Constitution establishing the grand coalition ranks Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the third in command, Cabinet Minister Martha Karua has said.
Ms Karua, who is the Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister, said the Constitution and the accord were clear on the duties and responsibilities of each member of the Government, especially the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and ministers.
"Let's strive to work for the nation and not interpret the law according to who we like," Ms Karua said as she pointed out that former Attorney General Charles Njonjo's interpretation was wrong.
The minister, who was speaking at the AIPCA Kiriti Church in Tetu constituency, during a funds drive for the church's theology college, was accompanied by area MP Francis Nyammo and former Nyeri Town MP PG Mureithi.
She said even though the accord on the duties and responsibilities of the office of Prime Minister was enacted, the Constitution was never changed on the duties of the Vice President who remained the President's principal assistant.
"President Kibaki has nothing to clarify over the pecking order. The issue is very clear," she said.
However, she said, Mr Odinga was at par with President Kibaki as far as party leadership is concerned.
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This woman is a very terrible spoiler. I am ashamed of her. She seems to want the wrangling to go on for ever.
She is my hero i hope she was younger. Politically Prime minister is senior that kibaki and kalonzo but in government and in the constitution Kibaki is senior then kalonzo then raila. You see Raila can tell to people to fight and they fight.Kibaki cannt influence anybody to fight we just tell him off. If Raila says lets jump you just ask how high sir and not why should we jump.
That my friend shows the difference between the two groups of supporters; Kibaki’s and Raila’s: I like your confession that Raila says fight and they fight and that if he asks you to jump, you ask how high sir and not why. It is because of Raila then that we have the displaced people, people who were killed, burnt down properties including uprooted railway lines and so on. It is true he was at the forefront in Majimbo talk, meaning to send ‘foreigners’ (Kikuyus) out of every province in Kenya. People were told go to fight and they accepted, to kill and they killed. Why do you think Kibaki is voted for and yet he cannot ask the same people to go and fight? Judge for yourself then who is a more civilized leader and people. That is the difference and in Kenya God will not allow a president who orders people to go and kill and burn properties. That is why Kibaki is president and not Raila. If Raila wants to be president, ask him to change and value human life.
I am totally dismay about this power struggle. Madam Kuria is a well educated person but she still envilope her self in the African rythem of self center power madness.My writing last march before the sharing deal was made about the role of the Prime Minister,President and the vice President was well spelt out clearly. Sharing 50/50 power does not change world meaning of these roles in a civilized world. The cabinet is too big. next time it is going to be small this is just to accomodate all that are going on that is to satisfy the contituence of friends. There are alot to be done than all that are going on let the prime minister monster his work for the people. These minister are not for the people of Kenya they are for money grab.When MP earns more than developed countries congressmen and women and MPs and the country of Kenya people under the develop world as poor and their leaders enriching themselves.Looking for the develop world for handout. This is bad. I just have alot interest in Kanya politice and her people.One day l will visit Kenya. Give The prime Minister and President a chance to work for the people of Kenya.
I am totally dismayed about this power struggle. Madam Karua is a well educated person but she still enviloped her self in the African rythem of self center power madness.The same mode appliy to Vice president Kalonzo, who did over step his bound last week. In other civilized countries, vice presidents,never struggle with the President or prime Ministers indoor or not say in public view. They are not an elected officer of the government, he was appointed to uphold a shaking government for support. As , for Madam Karua,If she is given the post of Vice prime minister, the interpretation of the role of Prime Minster and Vice will be different , it will be done to her favor. A different interpretation of the constitutions. Please, I want you to read my writing of February/March 2008 before, the power sharing deal was made about the role of the Prime Minister,President and the vice President was well spelt out clearly. Sharing 50/50 power does not change world meaning of these roles in a civilized world. Remember the cabinet is too big. next time it is going to be small this is just to accomodate all the cronies, that is, to satisfy the constituence of friends. There are alot to be done than working on self-center mode.Let the prime minister monster his works for the people,the fact is the President still got weight to play , he did alot before,now he is under micoscope to do better job. There are alot of ministers that are not fit for any government post.These ministers are not for the people of Kenya they are for money grab.When MP earns more than developed countries congressmen and women and MPs and the country of Kenya people under the develop world as poor and their leaders enriching themselves.Looking for the developed world for handout. This is bad. I just have alot interest in Kanya politics and her people.One day l will visit Kenya. Give The prime Minister and President a chance to work for the people of Kenya. Glory to Kenya
This Mrs Wamugunda Thing is crazy. The Other day she was crying that The Prime minster is depriving off almost all the powers from the president and now today she is saying the same guy with lots of power like president is below the VP is she normal.
You could go to hell with your pecking power but look! the US will bring aid through the PMs office and the PM will directly recommend to ministries.
You are lucky coz just lucky lucy you are not Luhya's. You could be far away from parliament if you were one.
Another confused one is Bishop Njue. instead of talking the truth he is awkwardly siding forgetting that he is at the helm of catholic church in kenya. Shame to him.
Na wewe kalonzo pia uwahce ujinga. Unaibisha hata Wakamba.
Pumbavu Nyinyi
If there is a lady who has been subjected to uncalled for vitrol in these blogs is Honourable Martha Karua, Minister for constitutional affairs. There are some Kenyans who would rather Martha is given a job and then sit there, collect her salary and do nothing(like several useless ministers we know). Why is it that we criminalise hardworking people in this country and glorify good for nothing lazy bums? The other day, Nairobi City councillors ganged against the miracle worker Town clerk-Gakuo- accusing him of "disrespect"because he refused to open the City Council purse to them to pillage.If there is a minister I admire in the entire Bunge,it is Martha Karua and I was really disappointed when Kibaki didnt make her Deputy-Prime Minister.In the height of the chaotic negotiations when Kenyans were bullied to the bone, she made me really proud to be a Kenyan whith her "heaven is here in Kenya"statement,her guts, her one woman patriotic defence of our motherland, and courage to stand to Koffi Anan (when the good peace keeper appeared to deliberately lose course)a time when everyone else seemed thoroughly intimidated. When the real,genuine history of what transpired during those post-elections difficult days will be written,I am sure Martha Karua's role will surprisingly be found to have been quite patriotic and quite heroic!
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This woman should not be so jealous of PRIME MINISTER MR.RAILA ODINGA,cuz of his well-being,success,triumph and popularity.kenyans know that her jeolousy grows from a feeling of inferiority,sometimes from a sence of self-deprecation.or becouse she didnt get the slot of being deputy prime minister.karua should know that jealous does not hurt prime minister but it hurts her becouse jealousy lives and is alive in her heart.karua will always remain enveloped in jealousy while the prime minister MR.RAILA bask in the sunshine of glory,and will move on to greater success while,karua remain enveloped in jealousy. Rise above jealousy,antagonism and resentment.she should learn to appreciate others.pause and ask yourself why Hermann Hesse said"if you hate a person,you hate something in him that is a part of yourself.what isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us" And remind her to that Thomas Jefferson said"what has destroyed liberty and the right of men in every government that has ever existed under the sun?The generalizing and concentrating of all cares and power into one body.so she must wecome change as the rule that all kenyan want cuz kibaki and Raila share the same command period.