allAfrica.com: Kenya: PM's Supervisory Role is Put to Test (Page 1 of 2)

Prime Minister Raila Odinga's first task as a supervisor, at which he invited Cabinet ministers, Permanent Secretaries and senior civil servants at his Treasury office, ignited the powder keg of divided loyalties, The Standard has learnt.

Last night US ambassador, Mr Michael Ranneberger, described the meeting as "absolutely necessary", saying he would today meet President Kibaki as part of his routine and regular meetings with the two leaders to monitor the progress of the Grand Coalition Government.

It also emerged that an apparent open leaning by the US towards the PM at the meeting, which took place last week on the eve of the Eldoret peace rally, angered some Party of National Unity (PNU) Cabinet ministers and could have helped feed the unraveling protocol tussles between Raila and Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka.

Word that the US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice had extended an invitation to the PM and a Kenyan delegation to travel to the US only helped fuel suspicion and mistrust by PNU.

On Monday, a section of PNU leaders accused the PM of being "babied" by the US and for receiving too much donor attention in his new role as supervisor in the new Cabinet.

But ODM too called a press conference at its headquarters and continued stoking the embers of the controversy over the pecking order saga, which it sees as a conspiracy to undermine the PM.

Seen as the genesis of the supremacy wars that date back to a statement last month by Mr Francis Muthaura, the head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, where he endeavoured to explain "Government structure", the PM's role is causing disquiet within PNU circles.

"How can Raila summon us to a meeting with a junior officer? For us the most important ambassadors are those of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the UK. The US comes much lower in the pecking order," Foreign Affairs minister, Mr Moses Wetangula, told The Standard at the weekend.

The 'junior officer', who seemingly infuriated Wetangula was Ranneberger, who was at the Treasury on Raila's invitation.

It may have come as no surprise, therefore, that most PNU ministers did not turn up at the Treasury meeting. But a minister from the wing, who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity, said some of them felt "belittled by Raila's new supervisory role".

PNU ministers who attended the meeting included, Mr John Michuki (Environment), Mrs Beth Mugo (Public Health), Dr Naomi Shaaban (Special Programmes), and Dr Noah Wekesa (Forestry and Wildlife).

Finance Minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, was represented by his Assistant minister, Dr Oburu Oginga, and his PS, Mr Joseph Kinyua.

Several PSs were also at the meeting, which brought together 18 technical heads of various programmes funded by the US government.

On his part, Ranneberger said he was happy with the meeting that was attended by a number of ministers from both sides of the grand coalition.

While confirming the invitation to tour the US, Raila said: "The US has assured me Condi Rice will be hosting a delegation, which I shall lead to Washington DC."

"We shall proceed to Washington DC to further press for more aid and also promote Kenya by encouraging international investment and tourism. To this end the US ambassador will be working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and I shall ensure we redouble the investment promotion of country," said Raila in a statement obtained by The Standard.

Monday night, Ranneberger said of the invitation: "It is appropriate and important to invite the PM to Washington DC. All we want is to make the coalition government effective."

In the run-up to the naming of the coalition Cabinet Raila also received several high profile ministers from donor countries and hosted various ambassadors, a move seen by PNU as "offering him too much attention".

At the meeting Raila heaped praise on the US and told ministers and other Government officials present: "As special friend of Kenya and being the largest individual donor with programmes touching on virtually all ministries, it is important to review these programmes to address challenges and needs."

On its part, the US has stressed on real power sharing between the two partners in the coalition. It was also the first donor country to pay a courtesy call on the PM last week.

During the visit, the US gave ($500,000) Sh32.5 million to facilitate Raila's newly created office to enable it embark on its assignments immediately.

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