Nairobi — The leadership of the coalition government has once again come under fresh attack over the slow progress in the implementation of reforms.

The main financiers of the Serena peace process - the European Union - termed the current pace as "too slow."

Top on the list of EU's prescription for Kenya's historical woes is a new constitution, electoral and judicial reforms and an end to impunity and extrajudicial killings by the security agents.

The renewed impatience by the donor community comes within weeks of conflicting messages from Cabinet ministers over the formation of a special tribunal.

On Tuesday, at a news conference in Nairobi's Hilton Hotel, the European Union and its subsidiary, the European Commission, were hard-pressed to explain their continued involvement in the process without tangible reforms.

The EC Head of Delegation in Kenya, Mr Eric van der Linden pointed the slow pace of reforms to "indecision of the principals."

Mr Linden reckoned that both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga seemed keen on reforms, but they seemed to be held hostage by their cronies in the coalition government.

It is this fear of trampling on some interests, he said, that weakened the push towards conclusive execution of the reforms.

"You cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg," Mr Linden said.

He said the coalition wrangles were not unique to Kenya and as such they should not be used as an excuse for the stagnation of the country's development.

Swedish Ambassador Mrs Anna Brandt said the EU will continue to support the government in the push for reforms.She said it will be "premature" for them to pull out as "that won't help the current problems."

"The statement by (chief mediator) Kofi Annan that the progress was too slow is one that we agree with," Mrs Brandt said.

Speaking on the first day of Sweden's six-month tenure at the EU's Presidency, the Swedish envoy stuck to diplomatic ettiquette avoiding direct criticism of the wobbly coalition government.

Both Mr Linden and Mrs Brandt said the task of realising reforms rested with the Parliament and other Kenyans.Though they kept off the current political hotspot of whether or not to have a special tribunal, they called on the political class to "show a vision for the country."

"There is too much preparing for the 2012 elections without a focus on whether the country will be there after the elections," Mr Linden said. "Vision 2030 is far away."

With the current strong divisions among MPs over contentious issues in the new Constitution, the special tribunal and judicial reforms, EU's diplomatic stance could fizzle out soon.

The coalition government has lately been relying on threats --by Mr Annan to send the key suspects of post-poll violence to the Hague-- before making key steps in reforms.