Nairobi — The Executive divide will be evident on Friday as Prime Minister Raila Odinga launches the Mau Forest tree-planting drive without the President.

Several Cabinet ministers allied to President Kibaki's PNU coalition and Agriculture minister William Ruto's Rift Valley ODM bloc have planned to skip the event expected to show the Government's commitment to reclaiming Kenya's largest source of water.

This is despite the fact that a joint statement released by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday said the coalition had agreed that the later will lead the tree planting.

The launch of the Mau re-afforestation programme has been steeped in controversy this week since it emerged that President Kibaki planned to skip the event while Mr Odinga insisted that it would go ahead.

Though Mr Odinga on Wednesday said that "the government will be there" at the tree-planting, the Nation has learnt that several Cabinet ministers could stay away from the event -- a move that has sparked fresh tension between the PM's office and State House.

It finally became clear that the President would not attend the function when the plaque bearing his name as the event commissioner was replaced.

Replaced plaque

Kenya Forestry Service personnel and members of the Kiptunga Community Forest Association who were busy making final preparations at the venue replaced the plaque with one bearing Mr Odinga's names.

All ministers had been asked to attend the event in letters by Mr Odinga and Public Service Head Francis Muthaura, but several have pulled out citing other engagements since it became apparent that the President would not be attending.

Speculation was rife that the fate of retired president Moi's Kiptagich tea factory and lobbying which has been going on to spare it could have contributed to the controversy.

But those close to President Kibaki cite lack of protocol in the way the function was organised as the main reason for the failure by some sections of the government to attend.

They sited public pronouncements by the PM and Forestry minister Noah Wekesa, committing the Head of State when no consultations had been made with State House as having contributed to the confusion.

Others said that the new rapport between Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta and Agriculture minister William Ruto who has opposed the evictions, has led to divisions in government over the function.

Mr Kenyatta was the guest of honour during a fundraiser organised by Mr Ruto and several Rift Valley MPs to help in those evicted from the water catchment area.

Mau is the largest indigenous forest in East Africa and Kenya's most vital water tower, covering some 270,000 hectares. Among the rivers originating from the forest are Ewaso Ng'iro, Sondu, Mara and Njoro which feed several lakes in the Rift Valley and Western Kenya, among them Lakes Victoria, Nakuru and even Natron in Tanzania.

President Kibaki's decision became clear when State House released a programme yesterday indicating he would be witnessing the swearing in of judges of the Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court at State House, Nairobi.

Mr Odinga has also launched a media campaign to publicise the event even after it became apparent that the President planned to give it a miss.

To stay away

Among those expected to stay away are Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, who are leaders of the "KKK" political alliance that is opposed to Mr Odinga's leadership.

Mr Musyoka will be in Mozambique representing Mr Kibaki at the swearing-in of President Armando Guebuza.

An aide to Mr Kenyatta, who requested anonymity, said the Deputy PM would not attend the event because "it had nothing to do with the Ministry of Finance" that Uhuru heads.

Another aide, Mr Njee Muturi, said: "I'm not aware whether he will go or not."

Mr Ruto, who has sharply differed with his ODM party leader over the Mau evictions declined to comment when approached by the Nation.

However his close associate, Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, said the minister would skip the tree-planting.

"Mheshimiwa will be in Mogotio tomorrow to meet those who have been devastated by floods," Mr Kutuny said.

Gender minister Esther Murugi also said she would not be in Mau because she had other pressing engagements elsewhere, which she could not cancel.

Cannot change

"The dates have been changing, and I find myself committed elsewhere tomorrow which I cannot change at this late hour," she said on Thursday.

Her Nairobi Metropolitan counterpart, Mr Robinson Githae, said he was not sure whether he would travel to Mau or not.

"I have a very important function in my constituency, I'm trying to see whether I can have it re-arranged," he said.

Efforts to contact Trade minister Amos Kimunya failed as his cellphone went unanswered, but a golf fixture list published in the media on Thursday indicated that he would be taking part in the BMW Golf Cup International competition at the Muthaiga Golf Club. He is expected to tee off at 1.20pm.

On Tuesday, Mr Odinga had sent out letters to all Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers inviting them to the function during which the government would launch the "Save the Mau Trust Fund."

"The Government has organised a tree-planting exercise which is scheduled for Friday 15th January, 2010 at Kiptunga, Molo at 11am. His Excellency the President, myself, the entire Cabinet and Members of Parliament will participate in the exercise," read the letter.

The letter followed an earlier one by Mr Muthaura to all Cabinet ministers informing them that the function had been moved from January 8, to last Wednesday.

Mr Muthaura's letter dated January 7, said: "You were invited by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to the above tree-planting exercise on 8th January, 2010, at Kiptunga forest station in Molo. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the event has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, 13th January 2010 at the same venue."

Those who confirmed that they would attend the event included Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi and Forestry minister Dr Noah Wekesa.

"I will be there, we must support conservation efforts," Mr Mudavadi said.

Environment

And Dr Wekesa said: "I'll be there... People who are interested in conserving the environment will be there... As a ministry we have a plan to plant trees in every available space, not only the Mau."

Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang also told Nation that he would attend the event in support of conservation efforts.

On Wednesday, National Heritage minister William Ntimama had told off those opposed to the event branding them enemies of environmental conservation.

"I will go even if there is no invitation...Those who want to remain can remain, we don't need them," he declared.