Nairobi — Cabinet ministers intent on defying the government decision to replace their expensive fuel-guzzling cars with more modest official vehicles must either resign or be shown the door.

A basic fundamental of any organisation -- whether that be a private company, a football club or a government -- must be a semblance of order and discipline. Where one in the management of any organisation is opposed to the direction being pursued, he or she is at liberty to push for alternative policies.

If unsuccessful, however, there are only two options: One is, drop the objections and go along with the path set by the organisation.

If however one cannot reconcile his conscience, principles or standards with those policies, then the only other alternative is to resign. Staying to fight the set policy in a manner that reeks of defiance or sabotage from within should really not be an option.

If one insists on the path, the appointing authority must take the hard option and dismiss that person. This applies to what type of car a minister may be allocated at taxpayer expense, and to much more fundamental issues of governance and policy.

We believe that the decision to replace the cars is not merely a Ministry of Finance proposal, but a policy measure that has been endorsed at Cabinet level. If so, there should be absolutely no instance of ministers going public on how they must hold on to their beloved Mercedes Benz sedans and four-wheel drive behemoths.

Even discussion on how the vehicles will be seized from defiant ministers should not arise, for those relieved of their jobs shall have no further right to official transport anyway.

Managing a coalition as we have was never going to be easy, but the President and the Prime Minister must at some point demonstrate leadership by enforcing order and discipline in the ranks.