just when i was starting to raise my hopes

The real reson we Fought for Democracy. You gotta love Africa.

MPs to earn billions in new lifelong retirement package
Written by Jim Onyango

Parliament BuildingsMarch 11, 2008: The Kenyan taxpayer will foot bills worth billions of shillings to finance savvy retirement packages that MPs awarded themselves through amendments passed by the Eighth Parliament.

It has emerged that the Exchequer will from this year pay millions of shillings in lumpsum and monthly payments that will see some former MPs earn more than Sh400,000 each month for the rest of their lives.

The pensions load is expected to become particularly heavy on the taxpayer as it consumes more money from the Consolidated Fund.

Top among the beneficiaries of the retirement law passed in June 2002 are MPs who have served for five terms including former Keiyo South legislator Nicholas Biwott and former National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo.

According to a table of payment schedules prepared by Treasury, the former speaker qualifies for a lumpsum payment of Sh6.4 million besides a monthly payment of Sh405,000 for the rest of his life.

Five term MPs will retire for a lumpsome package of Sh4.6 million and earn a monthly pension of Sh290,000 for the rest of their lives.

Economists warned that the real import of the pensions law is likely to be felt in the next 15 years when more than 300 MPs are expected to have been sent packing by their electors and will qualify to draw pensions.

The strain will be felt in the Consolidated Fund, which will finance the pensions burden given the high rate of turnover in Parliament. During the last General Election alone, only 71 members out of the 210 elected MPs who served in the previous Ninth Parliament made it to the 10th.

This means that the 139 MPs who were voted out must be paid their lumpsum pensions beginning this financial year.

MPs have a contributory scheme into which they pay 12.6 per cent of earnings with the government contributing an additional 25.4 per cent of the MPs salaries.

Each MP’s pensionable emoluments is calculated from the total salary, perks for responsibility, constituency and house.

The annual pensionable emolument of an ordinary MP stands at Sh3.8 million while that of ministers and assistant ministers amounts to Sh4.2 million and Sh3.9 million respectively.

Yesterday, it emerged that the Finance ministry’s pension department had issued a notice to all the former MPs asking them to file claims for payments of gratuity, pensions and other benefits.

“The Pensions Department will process benefits for MPs who were not re-elected to the 10th Parliament” said the notice.


Former National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole KaparoPayment of pensions, gratuities and other benefits to retired MPs are governed by the Parliamentary Pensions Act Cap. 196, which was amended last in 2002.

The law stipulates that an MP who served only one term will be paid pension refund but members who served more than one term will be paid a lumpsum on application for the pension which will thereafter be followed by monthly pension payments.

For example a former MP who served only one term will take home Sh4.4 million in pension refund. But if the MP was a minister, he or she would take away Sh5.5 million. A one term MP who was an assistant minister would earn Sh5.2 million.

Twenty ministers were voted out of Parliament while 25 assistant ministers did not make it to the 10th Parliament.

From this group alone five ministers were first time MPs meaning that Treasury will part with Sh30 million towards their pension refund. Fifteen of the assistant ministers who did not see the inside of the current Parliament were first time MPs and will take home a cumulative figure of Sh75 million.

The ministers and assistant ministers who were felled but had served more than one term in Parliament will take about Sh200,000 more than the ones who served one term.

A minister who served more than two terms is to take a lumpsum pension payment of Sh1.5 million besides a monthly payment of Sh95,000 for the rest of his or her life.

For an ordinary MP who served two terms, a Sh1.4 million cheque would be drawn on his name and he will be lining up at the pensions department at the end of every month for a Sh90,000 payment. The MPs who served three terms and more would earn Sh142,000 every month as pension payments.

In rough estimates, taking into account that 142 MPs — who include seven nominated ones — did not make it to the 10th Parliament, the government will spend about Sh12.7 billion in monthly pension payments on the MPs assuming that all of them were two time legislators.

The consolidated fund services was allocated Sh129.1 billion shillings in the 2007/2008 budget. It is from this kitty that MPs draw their salaries and the same one that will fund the pensions for the retired MPs.

The pension is managed by a Parliamentary Pensions Management Committee chaired by the Speaker and whose members include the Attorney General, PS Treasury, three sitting MPs and the National Assembly Clerk.

The Finance ministry keeps records of the contributions while the pensions department pays the benefits.

So far 16 former MPs have had their pension applications approved and forwarded to the pensions department for payment.

Sources said many more applications had been forwarded to the committee for approval before being forwarded to the pensions department.

Just makes me sick. about 10% of our Tax payments go to pay this useless Buffoon's and by the way, their pay is untaxed.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/cartoons/cartins110308.jpg

The Law will find those who are guilty.

Karua: No amnesty for those who broke law Published on March 10, 2008, 12:00 am

Cabinet minister, Ms Martha Karua, has ruled out giving amnesty to perpetrators of post-election violence. At the same time, the minister said the newfound political agreement did not take away President Kibaki’s power to chair the Cabinet.

Speaking in Nyeri town on Sunday, Karua said under the new agreement, the PM was expected to work under the President, who is the Head of State. "There is nowhere that it is written the President may not chair the Cabinet. He still enjoys Executive powers," Karua said.

The minister also said under the new agreement that was yet to be debated in Parliament, ODM-Kenya leader, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, would retain the Vice-Presidency. She said the Grand Coalition would accommodate people from other small parties that had been working with PNU and the Government.

She said it was unfortunate that ODM had started identifying ministries it wanted even before the matter was discussed.

Karua said the work on how the Cabinet portfolios would be shared should be left to the two principals – Kibaki and ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga. "I’m perturbed by the articles appearing in sections of the media indicating that ODM has already outlined the ministries they want to fill," she said.

On appointment of public servants, the minister said it was naive for some leaders to politicise hiring in Government departments.

She said it was the work of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to hire civil servants on merit. "We should not start talking about the appointments of PCs, DCs and other civil servants who are duly appointed by the PSC to carry out their mandate," she said.

On violence that rocked the country after the elections, Karua said although a political agreement had been reached between Kibaki and Raila, the Government would pursue those behind the clashes. In an apparent reference to Raila’s plea to have ODM supporters held in custody freed, the minister said all suspects would face the law as required.

"There is nothing like forgiving people who took away hundreds of innocent lives and destroyed property," Karua said at a public rally.

The minister, who was accompanied by MPs Mr Kabando wa Kabando and Ms Esther Murugi, said giving amnesty to perpetrators of violence would set a bad precedent. She said those who engaged in criminal activities should be ready to pay for their deeds through the process of justice.

Speaking in Western Province on Saturday, Raila said ODM supporters who were arrested during post-election violence should be released.

Meanwhile, some ODM politicians want pardons: NEWS

Police arrest five in Eldoret church arson

Story by SHEILA NATURINDA
Publication Date: 3/10/2008

Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the Kiambaa killings where a church in Eldoret was burnt by rowdy youth during the post-poll clashes.

More than thirty-five people, most of them children and women who were seeking refuge from the violence in the church, were burnt to death in the incident that shocked the entire world.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe, while addressing a news conference in Nairobi, said police are in hot pursuit of 14 other key suspects.

Mr Kiraithe said that police will not give up in their efforts to bring to book all the culprits of post election violence.

This comes amid raging debate where politicians from the Rift Valley province are calling for the pardoning of offenders in the post-poll melee while a cross section of human rights activists demand their prosecution.

Over 1,000 lives were lost and nearly 350,000 people uprooted from their homes in the chaos that swept parts of the country after ODM contested the declaration of president Kibaki as the winner of the disputed December General Election.

President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga have since reached a political settlement that will see the latter take up the position of a prime minister which will be created through constitutional amendments set to be tabled in Parliament.

It is on the basis of this reconciliation “mood” that the politicians called for the forgiveness of the offenders.

carver, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR THOSE WHO RIGGED THE ELECTIONS. ewengai, muhana kenguy i have disagreements with them but they have one thing that you dont have i.e THEY THINK BEFORE THEY TALK AND YOU DONT boz you look at the issue from one dimension and that makes you look dumb:stupid::stupid::stupid:

carver, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR THOSE WHO RIGGED THE ELECTIONS. ewengai, muhana kenguy i have disagreements with them but they have one thing that you dont have i.e THEY THINK BEFORE THEY TALK AND YOU DONT boz you look at the issue from one dimension and that makes you look dumb:stupid::stupid::stupid:



Aki woishe Nairoberry, leave Carver02 alone. He actually has a point (and cut him some slack - he didn't write the articles, he just pasted them here).

Now, about the rigged elections. Good question you ask there, but you're forgetting that the elections were rigged on both sides. So what do you suggest? What to do?
On the other hand, it is imperative that the murderers be brought to book, regardless of which side they were on. I personally see the call by the MP's for forgiveness one motivated purely by selfishness. Remember, many of those who were involved in the crimes were actually sponsored by various policitians and other bigwigs. So, guess what will happen when they are arrested and charged before a court? Your guess is as good as mine.
Also, don't forget that the only way Kenyans are going to be able to leave peacefully amongst each other is if the murderers are brought to book. The era of killing with impunity is over. It happened in '92, '97, and '07. It should never be allowed to happen again.

There's nothing that runs better than the government of National Unity as there will always be an opposition to the ruling party. All I can say is that do not despair, Kenya have taken a good step in problem resolution and they won't fail to solve other minor issues. In regards to members of the cabinet benefiting in a long run, I personally do not see any problem there but delivery to thier people must be a priority. We shoudln't expect a 100 percent perfect run as there is not government in this world that is being run 100% perfect. PEACE is praveiling in Kenya and it shall for long.

Its funny how we all run to defend the various politicians when they have showen clearly that they dont care about us. The most painfull thing to watch on telly is our sorry excuse for a first lady. Lucy kibaki has to be th eunclassies, excuse for a total woman i have ever seen. Kibaki and Raila seem to be more interested in what powers they will get than actually getting the country on track. there are so many people in the coalition trying to get seats in the coalition government and if you read my aticle above, all we will end up with is another bloated government.

I wish these guys were out in the fields conducting ahealing process. I consider myself As Untribal as a kenyan can be, but now i have certain feelings about other tribes that i never thought existed. all created in the last 1 month. Im sure ill get my head together soon enough, but what about the people who have lost everything? who will bring them back to the national fold? Whats their slice of Democracy, that they so expensively paid for?

Our leaders need to really think about their job titles. LEAD not SIT (seat of parliament). I dread to think what the elections will be like in 2012 if these continues. Im hoping that this is our opportunity as kenyans to bunch this guys together and allow a new breed of politician as their opposition.

as for the Amnesty calls, anyone who killed, including the police, should all be prosecurted. we owe it to our future generations to set a president for solving political wrangles without resulting to crime.

God help kenya.
As For now. Ill hold on to my "Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya" claim just that bit longer till i get something worth patting myself on the back for.

There's nothing that runs better than the government of National Unity as there will always be an opposition to the ruling party. All I can say is that do not despair, Kenya have taken a good step in problem resolution and they won't fail to solve other minor issues. In regards to members of the cabinet benefiting in a long run, I personally do not see any problem there but delivery to thier people must be a priority. We shoudln't expect a 100 percent perfect run as there is not government in this world that is being run 100% perfect. PEACE is praveiling in Kenya and it shall for long.

I kind of feel good that this came from a southafrican. The Mandela , De Clerk coalition was one i was very sceptical about and they pulled it off. I guess the main difference is that Mandella was a total selfless statesman while i wouldnt buch our leaders in that basket just yet.

By Mutinda Mwanzia And Roselyne Obala

Kangundo MP, Mr Johnson Muthama, has vowed to go on with his Bill aimed at reducing the salaries and allowances of legislators.

Muthama also the Government deputy Chief Whip, said he expected a lot of resistance from his colleagues.

"I will not be cowed and will surely table the Motion soon," said Muthama.

He insisted that MPs were overpaid yet majority of Kenyans were living on less than a dollar a day.

"The prices of basic commodities are the same whether one is an MP or not. The overpaid legislators therefore do not feel the pinch," he said.

Muthama told The Standard he was driven by a desire to have salaries for all public servants harmonised.

"It is immoral to have legislators earning huge salaries while civil servants earn measly wages," he said. His intended Bill on MPs’ pay is set to put him on a collision course with his colleagues.

"Muthama is joking and should forget about tabling the Motion," said an MP who sought anonymity.

Muthama, a first time MP, is a wealthy gemstones dealer and has vast interests in real estate.

Meanwhile, Budalang’i MP, Mr Ababu Namwamba, has challenged politicians to put their ambitions aside and focus on rebuilding the country.

Namwamba said Kenyans were banking on politicians to cultivate a peaceful environment to attract investors back into the country.

"It would be fraudulent to the public if we concentrate on our interests at their expense yet they are banking on us to give this country a new dawn," he said.

He urged leaders not to be blinded by their personal ambitions, but ensure they deliver what is expected of them.



The above is an article from the East African standard. I don't know much about Mr. Muthama, but he is my new favorite guy. It is going to be hard for him to get enough people of dignity to rally around his proposal, but I wish him all the best. We can help Mr. Muthama by flooding the blogs in support of his initiative. Most of the elected officials, are in office to get rich, rather than legislate and keep the executive in check. I only wish that members of the cabinet were appointed from outside parliament, with the necessary vetting of course, to ensure qualified individuals being tasked with running the government departments. The number of cabinet ministers should realistically not exceed 18. It is time the leadership view the running of Kenya as a business.

carver, ...you look at the issue from one dimension and that makes you look dumb:stupid::stupid::stupid:Which dimension is that?

My perspective holds that murders should be severely punished, arsonists should be severely punished, people who place tires under vehicles at illegal roadblocks and set them on fire should be severely punished, looters should be punished, and people destroying public infrastructure should be punished.

Your perspective seems to hold that these things can be justified. Perhaps, in a situation of an extremely repressive government, totally disrespectful of human rights and civil liberties, with the government needlessly using force against its population,some of the tactics involving the disruption of government and administration may be justifiable. But such a situation did not exist in Kenya.

Despite your myopia, and your attempts to paint the Kibaki-PNU government as one of the worst in world, the truth is quite the opposite. During Kibaki's tenure press freedom, criticism of government, and civil society (not to mention the economy) have flourished as never before in Kenya.

You seem to think that people should be allowed to machete their way into office. That worked in the 1st Century, but in the 21st Century we have representative and judicial institutions. All legitimate political conflict MUST take place within those institutions. If this is not the case then physical and economic security will remain weak in Kenya, and the economy and standards of living will never reach their potential.

You, like Odinga, seem to be obsessed simply with power and winning. You need to think about more than power and winning. You need to think about the institutional future of your country.

By Mutinda Mwanzia And Roselyne Obala

Kangundo MP, Mr Johnson Muthama, has vowed to go on with his Bill aimed at reducing the salaries and allowances of legislators.

Muthama also the Government deputy Chief Whip, said he expected a lot of resistance from his colleagues.

"I will not be cowed and will surely table the Motion soon," said Muthama.

He insisted that MPs were overpaid yet majority of Kenyans were living on less than a dollar a day.

"The prices of basic commodities are the same whether one is an MP or not. The overpaid legislators therefore do not feel the pinch," he said.

Muthama told The Standard he was driven by a desire to have salaries for all public servants harmonised.

"It is immoral to have legislators earning huge salaries while civil servants earn measly wages," he said. His intended Bill on MPs’ pay is set to put him on a collision course with his colleagues.

"Muthama is joking and should forget about tabling the Motion," said an MP who sought anonymity.

Muthama, a first time MP, is a wealthy gemstones dealer and has vast interests in real estate.

Meanwhile, Budalang’i MP, Mr Ababu Namwamba, has challenged politicians to put their ambitions aside and focus on rebuilding the country.

Namwamba said Kenyans were banking on politicians to cultivate a peaceful environment to attract investors back into the country.

"It would be fraudulent to the public if we concentrate on our interests at their expense yet they are banking on us to give this country a new dawn," he said.

He urged leaders not to be blinded by their personal ambitions, but ensure they deliver what is expected of them.



The above is an article from the East African standard. I don't know much about Mr. Muthama, but he is my new favorite guy. It is going to be hard for him to get enough people of dignity to rally around his proposal, but I wish him all the best. We can help Mr. Muthama by flooding the blogs in support of his initiative. Most of the elected officials, are in office to get rich, rather than legislate and keep the executive in check. I only wish that members of the cabinet were appointed from outside parliament, with the necessary vetting of course, to ensure qualified individuals being tasked with running the government departments. The number of cabinet ministers should realistically not exceed 18. It is time the leadership view the running of Kenya as a business.

I wish more MP's were like him. and you are right about time for kenya being run like a business.

Kenya today= A beautiful country + hardworking population + bad managers.

The above is an article from the East African standard. I don't know much about Mr. Muthama, but he is my new favorite guy. It is going to be hard for him to get enough people of dignity to rally around his proposal, but I wish him all the best. We can help Mr. Muthama by flooding the blogs in support of his initiative. Most of the elected officials, are in office to get rich, rather than legislate and keep the executive in check. I only wish that members of the cabinet were appointed from outside parliament, with the necessary vetting of course, to ensure qualified individuals being tasked with running the government departments. The number of cabinet ministers should realistically not exceed 18. It is time the leadership view the running of Kenya as a business.


I feel you acreed. Its just sad that all they seem to care about it how much money they will get from. I will certainly take you up on the offer and post as many messages as i can to get the media into this. Ive sent amessage to the BBC so that they can watch how the debate develops.

Dont know much about that Muthama guy but i will try and find out what he's all about.

As much as i feel for his family, the passing of David Mwenje is a good thing for kenya. One of the majour advocates for Violence is dead.

As much as i feel for his family, the passing of David Mwenje is a good thing for kenya. One of the majour advocates for Violence is dead.

eehh mwenje ni kichwa mbaya ile bangi huyo buda uvuta si ya kwaida, i remember me and my cousins were @ mwenjes bar(made of makuti) in embakasi or is it pipeline? nway the guy comes in and bcoz its election time he buys everybody 2 bottles of beer and orders a whole goat for the pple in the bar and he publicly adresses the pple to return the favour @ the ballot box, it was my first time to experience public bribing!!!. i dont drink alcohol so my cousins got three pilsners but i thought to myself we kenyans are at times dumb, coz that is stolen taxpayers money and nobody said anything as long as you get your "cut", pathetic right?


MUHANA CHECK YOUR P.M

This is my mental picture of Kenyan politicians

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/ngari_2007/burgerboyhappy.jpg

From the Daily Nation:
Violence planned before poll, says report

Story by SAM KIPLAGAT
Publication Date: 3/18/2008

Details of how militia groups planned and attacked people during the post-election violence were revealed yesterday.

In Eldoret attacks on Kikuyu homes were planned by local leaders.

As one Kalenjin elder present at organising meetings explained to Human Rights Watch: “[The elders] said that if there is any sign that Kibaki is winning, then the war should break … They were coaching the young people how to go on the war [sic].”

A young Kikuyu involved in reprisal attacks on Luos in Naivasha also pointed to the role of local leaders in organising the violence.

“This was not done by ordinary citizens, it was arranged by people with money; they bought the jobless like me. We need something to eat each day,” he told the human rights group.

The human rights group says even before President Kibaki was officially declared the winner, parts of the province erupted in widespread inter-ethnic violence.

The report says the delays in the counting of votes and rampant rumours about the imminent rigging of the election sparked attacks primarily directed at members of the Kikuyu ethnic group.

The report titled Ballots to Bullets says in Eldoret Town, many Kalenjin politicians stoked ethnic tensions to mobilise political support among their kinsmen, a tactic, the report says, is familiar to Kenyan politics.

Citing one of many typical examples, it is reported that a rally in the Soy area in Uasin Gishu District heard that, if elected, a certain party would “remove the roots” of particular communities “so there would be only one tribe there.” The Kikuyu were commonly referred to as “snake.”

“They did not see the repercussions of this,” says the report.

Largely as a result of this ethnic rhetoric, many locals, the report adds, believed that once elected, their party would find a way to redistribute most or all land owned by the people considered outsiders.

“Human Rights Watch interviewed several leaders involved in anti-Kikuyu violence who said they were merely doing by force what they had been denied a chance to do through the ballot box,” the report states.

FM stations were also accused of echoing such words and being used as a platform for inflammatory ethnic rhetoric.

“There is no clear evidence that the same stations actively sought to disseminate hate speech, but that did not prevent guests from using the airwaves to do so. Language was usually highly idiomatic, but its meaning was clear to the audience.”

The lobby says divisive campaigning did not by itself cause existing ethnic tensions to boil over into violence. But in the days prior to the election, local elders in many communities around Eldoret called meetings where they declared that electoral victory for President Kibaki would be the signal for “war” against local Kikuyu.

“They told community members a PNU victory should be seen as conclusive proof of electoral fraud and that all Kikuyu were complicit in it,” says the report, that also claims many people were coerced into attending attack-related meetings.

Intimidation

“In several communities people who did not attend the meetings were threatened with the destruction of their own homes. And at the meetings, an atmosphere of intimidation made it very difficult to speak out in opposition to the planned violence,” the report says.

Tensions over land ownership the report says, have long been a source of mistrust and violence around Eldoret. Those tensions were exacerbated by the sharp ethnic lines drawn between opposing camps during the 2007 electoral campaign.

After the initial attacks, the reports adds, there was a series of ethnic-based reprisal attacks in other parts of the country, targeting other ethnic communities seen as broadly supportive of the opposition.

“In some areas, residents attempted to make a stand and defend their homes. These attempts were mostly unsuccessful. In most cases, the attackers were many and organized and easily overwhelmed the small number of farmers who sought to resist them,” says the group.

It adds: “In at least one case, groups of those under siege carried out brutal reprisal attacks during the initial bout of post-election chaos. On the evening of December 31 in Langas, an Eldoret neighbourhood populated primarily by the Kikuyu, the mobs killed and beheaded several Luos and left their severed heads lying on the road.”

As displaced people fled south from Eldoret towards the towns of Molo, Nakuru, and Naivasha in the southern Rift Valley and into Central Province, the traditional territory of the Kikuyu, they brought with them brutal stories of burning, looting, rape and murder.

Their stories, Human Rights Watch says, helped to stoke tensions among their kinsmen in these other towns. Local leaders and the Kikuyu elite there and in Nairobi reacted by organising to contribute money for “self-defence” forces, it says.

From the AP:NAIROBI, Kenya - On the day a global human rights watchdog accused politicians and police of helping orchestrate violence in Kenya, the president and the top opposition leader joined to appeal for $400 million for an emergency humanitarian and reconstruction program.

President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga presented representatives of 40 embassies — including Kenya's major creditors Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Russia and the United States — with an outline of the emergency program Monday.

"We want to restore peace; we want to resettle as well as reintegrate the displaced to their respective areas and neighborhoods," said Odinga, who is expected to become prime minister once parliament passes the laws necessary to implement a power sharing deal struck after both he and Kibaki claimed to have won the Dec. 27 presidential election. Incredible!

This is my mental picture of Kenyan politicians

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/ngari_2007/burgerboyhappy.jpg

ROTFL!!! actually add another beef pattie to that.

Story by NATION TEAM
Publication Date: 3/19/2008

House passes laws to create premier post

MPs Tuesday amended the Constitution to create the post of Prime Minister and two deputies.

President Kibaki later signed the Bill into law, making ODM leader Raila Odinga the Prime Minister-Designate.Also passed was the National Reconciliation Accord signed by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga on February 28. The accord ended two months of violence in which over 1,200 people were killed and 350,000 others displaced from their homes.

On Tuesday, the MPs voted 200 to zero to pass the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill without amending it.

A new coalition Government is to be formed between PNU and ODM. The two parties will share Cabinet positions on a 50:50 basis.

The Executive arm of Government will now comprise the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, two deputy prime ministers and Cabinet ministers.

The Prime Minister will have authority to coordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the Government.

On Tuesday, President Kibaki and Mr Odinga sat next to each other as MPs gave their overwhelming support to the amendment.

President Kibaki flew from Kiganjo in Nyeri, where he had presided over the passing out parade for new police recruits and joined MPs in the House.

In his contribution to the debate, the President said the Bills will lay the foundation for building a new Kenya. This was the first time in Kenya’s history that a sitting President contributed to a debate on the floor of the House.

The President occupied his seat as Leader of Government Business, meaning he could also be asked questions by MPs.

Mr Odinga who had occupied his position on the opposition benches joined the President on the Government front benches, swapping places with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who briefly sat on the opposition benches.

President Kibaki urged Kenyans to take advantage of the newly found unity to write a new constitution that would propel the country to prosperity.

Mr Odinga said many Kenyans had great expectations that the power-sharing deal would signal an end to the challenges facing the country.

Not stomach

“The country was degenerating and we could not stomach what was happening. We therefore had to make a decision fast despite pressure from our supporters who urged us to remain firm,” he said.

The constitutional amendment was moved by Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua and seconded by Ugenya MP James Orengo.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka stood immediately after the Bill was put to question and stated that jurisprudence should not be allowed to stand in the way of Kenyans living peacefully.

He said that the Constitution Amendment Bill was a proposed law that was a must for all MPs to pass.He reminded the House that the PNU side had agreed to support the Bill and even withdraw anticipated amendments to the law.

Mr Musyoka urged the House to pass the Bill quickly to provide an environment in which displaced people could return to their homes.

“We hope they will all see the mood in this House... and prepare to go home,” the VP said, and praised President Kibaki and Mr Odinga for working out a peaceful solution at Kenya’s hour of need.

“Now, I am a very proud Kenyan,” he said.

Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi told the House that the country had boldly taken steps into a new territory of seeking solutions to hitherto sticky issues that politicians had failed to agree on.Those issues, he said, were the democratic concept of power-sharing and the yet to solved comprehensive review of the Constitution.

“We have laid a foundation, we have broken into new territory and as a nation, we can now begin to talk about concluding the Constitution review in 12 months,” he said. Mr Mudavadi said the painful truth had finally dawned on Kenyans that no one group or community was greater than the others.

“We all now know that we need each other and nobody is superior,” he said. However, he said that internally displaced people were still doubtful of the Accord and challenged the House to convince them by unanimously voting for the Bill.

He urged all MPs to take risks and venture into the unknown world of having a PM’s post, stating that small hiccups that were popping up in PNU and ODM should not be allowed to take course.

At 3.20pm, Speaker Kenneth Marende thwarted the efforts of Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo (ODM-K) to bring to a closure debate on the Bill stating that more members wanted to contribute.

He reminded the House that a Constitutional amendment was rushed through the House in 1982 and the country paid dearly for the next 10 years until Section 2A was repealed.

“At this point in time, you are out of order. More members want to contribute to the Bill because this is a historic moment for the House,” he said.

National Security minister George Saitoti argued that the Bill presented a chance for members to state the truth that will pave way for national reconciliation.

“I know there are some members here who do not want to hear what I am saying. If indeed they are, shame on them. This is the moment to speak the truth.”Again, Speaker Marende stopped Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto (ODM) from cutting short Prof Saitoti.

He ordered: “Can we hear Prof Saitoti? Mr Ruto, you will get your time to speak.”

Prof Saitoti said he had referred to the sensitive issue of violence because once the Bill was passed, it would mark the beginning of a new era for all Kenyans.

The Internal Security minister urged the House to resolve that all displaced people should return to their homes.

“We should stay firm and say that all people must return to their farms. Some of us will have to recant the statements we issued before,” he said.

Mvita MP Najib Balala (ODM) said the passage of the Bill marked the beginning of a journey to change from the presidential system to a parliamentary one.

“This Bill is not about President Kibaki and Raila. It is not even about people getting positions. It is about building a system that can accommodate all,” he said.

His contribution was briefly interrupted by the entry of the President into the chambers at 3.41pm escorted by Government Chief Whip George Thuo and Mr Kilonzo.Given that he was attending the session as the Othaya MP, President Kibaki was not accompanied by his bodyguards. They were left outside the chambers. He walked in and took the seat of the Leader of Government Business, which usually is occupied by the VP.

Said Mr Balala as a sign of welcoming the historic attendance by President Kibaki: “This is historic and we welcome you, your Excellency.”

As Mbooni MP Mutula Kilonzo (ODM-K) took to the floor to contribute at 3.45pm, Mr Odinga moved from the seat of the Official Leader of the Opposition to the Government side to greet the President. He sat in between President Kibaki and the VP.

MPs extended debate late into the night before passing the second Bill on the National Accord

UN: No Amnesty for Kenyan Vote Violence

By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS

GENEVA (AP)

— Those who committed the worst crimes during the chaos following Kenya's disputed election should "under no circumstances" be granted amnesty, the U.N. has said.

In a report released Wednesday, United Nations officials urged Kenya to prosecute "gross human-rights violations," including those perpetrated by police. The report said there was evidence that police were responsible for most of the gun deaths after the country's disputed vote.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki both claimed victory in a Dec. 27 presidential election, unleashing weeks of bloodshed. More than 1,000 people were killed in the ensuing violence, which took on an ethnic dimension and exposed divisions over land and economic inequality.

The two leaders agreed to share power in early March, and proposed a truth, justice and reconciliation commission to investigate the violence.

The U.N. fact-finding team, which spent three weeks in Kenya last month, welcomed the commission, but said it must forward evidence to prosecutors, so perpetrators can be tried for their crimes.

"Perpetrators of gross human-rights violations should under no circumstances be recommended for amnesty," the team said.

Pardoning the guilty, the report said, would lead to a culture of impunity.

The team added that it found credible evidence that the guilty include police, who had a virtual monopoly on firearms. They shot into crowds, even when people were running away, the team said.

"It is widely acknowledged — even by police officials — that the vast majority of bullet wounds and ensuing death were caused by the police, who reportedly were the only ones to carry firearms," the report said.

Police have rejected such charges. So far, only one officer is under investigation, according to the team.

Partial hospital data collected by the U.N. team showed that 153 people were shot to death and that 227 people were wounded by bullets.

The team also noted that following an initial spontaneous outburst of violence, attacks became more organized and sometimes had the blessing of village elders seeking to force out different ethnic groups.

In a report on Monday, New York-based Human Rights Watch accused both pro-government and opposition politicians of helping to finance and organize the violence.

Kenyan and other international rights groups have made similar allegations about the involvement of politicians and businesspeople in the violence. Kenyan politicians have repeatedly denied those allegations.

Here we go again


ODM calls for protest over Safaricom sale

Story by KENNETH OGOSIA and CAROLINE WAFULA
Publication Date: 3/28/2008
ODM has called for protests Friday against the launch of Safaricom shares sales.

Secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o said Thursday Kenyans should say ‘‘NO to the theft of Safaricom at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre today. Stop the few tycoons from stealing from you through mysterious sale of Safaricom shares.”

Prof Nyong’o said in a statement jointly signed by ODM treasurer Omingo Magara that those purchasing the shares would do so at their own risk. They said there are ‘‘serious illegalities and flouting of established legal procedures in the Safaricom IPO.’’

They said the Capital Markets Authority Act and Regulations together with the new privatisation Act 2005 provisions have not been complied with. The privatisation programme under Section 17 has been wholly ignored and there exists conflict of interest in the transactions by consultants and advisers, Prof Nyong’o said.

Collective responsibility

Elsewhere, ODM MPs were asked to raise their concerns over the sale of the Safaricom shares through Government channels.

Fafi MP Adan Sugow said Thursday ODM would soon be part of Government and that they must get used to the idea of collective responsibility. He said ODM leader Raila Odinga had access to President Kibaki and should address his concerns through the President.

“They should discuss their concerns with the Head of State. This is the greatest IPO in the region and a test on the Kenyan economy and it should not be undermined. It needs support from all leaders,” he stated.

The Kanu MP said the party’s concern over the Safaricom shares sale were pertinent but that the issues can be investigated without undermining the sale process.

He told a news conference at Parliament Buildings that the party was causing tension in the country.

The MP said Mr Odinga was now a national and not just a party leader and should hold talks with Government officials and his views respected.

The MP said ODM “should remember that they are now part of Government and should influence whatever change they want through their access to the Head of State.

ODM MPs should also know that Mr Odinga is no longer theirs alone but a national leader. All that remains is his installation,” he stated.

Fresh threats for Kibaki tribe
02/04/2008 21:28 - (SA)

Click here to find out more!
# Kenya coalition talks in limbo
# Still problems in Kenya deal
# 3 die in Kenyan refugee camp
# Odinga, Kibaki in new battle
# Red Cross seeks $23m for Kenya
# US eases Kenya travel warning
# Kenyan poll probe 'daunting'

Eldoret - Leaflets threatening members of President Mwai Kibaki's tribe have been scattered in a Kenyan Rift Valley town that was one of the worst hit by post-election violence.

The fliers, dropped in the western town of Burnt Forest in recent days, ordered members of Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe to leave the region, predominantly inhabited by the rival Kalenjin tribe.

The area is a stronghold of opposition leader Raila Odinga and Burnt Forest was affected by deadly police raids and tit-for-tat tribal killings in the unrest that erupted when Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 27 presidential election.

"We allowed you to leave hoping that you would not return... Rift Valley is our land which we were given by God the same way you were given central province," read one leaflet.

Other leaflets threatened Kikuyus with death.

Weeks of clashes that killed some 1 500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands were fuelled by unresolved land disputes, poverty and resentment over the Kikuyus' political dominance since Kenya's 1963 independence.

"It is clear that we have the same rights over the land as others," said Joseph Njoroge, the head of the town's camp for the internally displaced and himself a Kikuyu.

He argued that the area's original landowners are in fact Maasais and that the Kalenjins bought land there just like the Kikuyus, who are originally from central Kenya.

A meeting between elders from the two tribes brought no results, Njoroge said.

Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing deal on February 28 to the crisis. The two sides have since suspended talks on the makeup of a power sharing coalition cabinet however.

This is insane. 40 ministries. talk about Greeeeeeeed.

Cabinet to be named on Sunday
Written By:Emmanuel Kola , Posted: Thu, Apr 03, 2008


President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Designate Raila Odinga will name the grand coalition government this Sunday.

The development emerged after the two principals Thursday held talks for over two hours on the formation of the new coalition cabinet at Harambee House in Nairobi.

The two leaders agreed on the appointment of a cabinet comprising of forty Ministries. The cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on Saturday next week.

This is insane. 40 ministries. talk about Greeeeeeeed.

Cabinet to be named on Sunday
Written By:Emmanuel Kola , Posted: Thu, Apr 03, 2008


President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Designate Raila Odinga will name the grand coalition government this Sunday.

The development emerged after the two principals Thursday held talks for over two hours on the formation of the new coalition cabinet at Harambee House in Nairobi.

The two leaders agreed on the appointment of a cabinet comprising of forty Ministries. The cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on Saturday next week.

40 ministries!! I don't know whether I should be shocked, surprised or sickened !! Inflation is creeping above 21% and all these people think about is rewarding everyone? I mean a cabinet of 18 should be enough for a country like Kenya, ministries like gender, youth, regional coperation, sports are just counter productive. I guess all we can do now is wait and see how this madness plays out. I only hope we can force a reduction in the Cabinet and MP pay.

40 ministries!! I don't know whether I should be shocked, surprised or sickened !! Inflation is creeping above 21% and all these people think about is rewarding everyone? I mean a cabinet of 18 should be enough for a country like Kenya, ministries like gender, youth, regional coperation, sports are just counter productive. I guess all we can do now is wait and see how this madness plays out. I only hope we can force a reduction in the Cabinet and MP pay.

just when u start to think that for once common sence might prevail. i am not shocked or surprised but i am very sickened to the point of vomiting.

We will probably have

Minister of roads, minister of Railway, minister of buses & Minister of all other cars where before there was minister of transport

Sijui kama mmeona kuwa ni sisi tu wakenya tunaongea juu ya siasa zetu mbaya hapa hata kama nchi zingine ziko na shida zao za kisiasa lakini hawaongei juu ya siasa zao. Uchaguzi umeisha na vile naona, tutaendelea na hadithi zile tumezoea kama ufisadi na ulafi wa wanasiasa wetu. Tutaendelea tu kupaka matope juu ya vile wengine wanavyotazama nchi yetu bure. :ohno:

Sioni haja ya kuendelea na sehemu hii ya uchaguzi.

Honestly Kenya must have the most idiotic voters in the world. For a country that gets aroud 500 bill in taxex to spend 2 bill of it on 40 individuls is just a joke.

I long for the day africa will get smarter as a whole man.

dude its the truth. and trust me people need to stop assuming that kenya is a perfect place.


Kibaki’s new Cabinet to cost Kenyans Sh10 billion
Written by Mwaura Kimani
.

April 4, 2008: The Kenyan taxpayer will bear a Sh2 billion burden annually in salaries and allowances over five years for the 40-member grand coalition Cabinet that was agreed yesterday.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga said the Cabinet — one of the largest in independent Kenya’s history — will be announced on Sunday. In agreeing on 40 members, the two showed they had little regard for public opinion that has been heavily tilted against a bloated government.

Mr Kibaki’s PNU and Mr Odinga’s ODM are obliged under the power-sharing deal brokered by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to get an equal share of the Cabinet positions.

Implementation of the Annan accord, which is based on portfolio balance and strength of representation in Parliament, has been at the centre of a stalemate that has delayed formation of a new government for nearly three weeks.

Mr Odinga yesterday said a compromise had been reached to quell growing anxiety over the matter. And the Presidential Press Service said: “Both parties are pleased with the outcome of the discussions in the spirit of give and take.”

But it was not clear if the 17-member Cabinet that Kibaki appointed at the height of the post-election crisis would be dissolved to pave way for a new one. Treasury is expected to make hard choices in raising money to finance the bloated Cabinet and the large bureaucratic machinery that will be required to run the newly-created ministries.

It will have to choose between raising the tax or turning to domestic and foreign debt markets to finance the Cabinet.

Neither option is favourable at a time when the ordinary Kenyan is expected to face serious hardship in a less vibrant economy underlined by rising consumer goods prices.

Each minister earns an average of Sh1.1 million a month, including the Sh887,500 they are entitled to as MPs. This translates to Sh996 million annually for a Cabinet of 40.

Remuneration packages for the PM and two deputies are yet to be determined but the prime minister is expected to earn more.

An equal amount of money will be spent on the pay perks of assistant ministers who earn at least Sh950,000 every month and may number more than 40.

At the rate of Sh2 billion per year, the Kenyan Cabinet stands out as one of the most highly paid group of advisers in the world. The ministers earn Sh200,000 as responsibility allowance every month, for which assistant ministers take home Sh100,000.

Only Sh200,000 of the ministers’ earnings classified as basic salary is taxable. This compares poorly with the rest of Kenyans who have to part with at least 30 per cent on their monthly incomes –– salaries and allowances.

Mr Tiberius Barasa, a policy analyst with the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR), said the financial burden could become even more as ministers use their positions to reward their cronies at the tax-payers’ expense.

Ministers and their assistants also enjoy other perks and privileges like security both in their city and rural homes, limousines, chase cars, medical insurance and club membership, making the Government spend more than Sh800 million on their allowances annually — enough to build 400 classrooms at a cost of Sh200,000 each.

The bloated Cabinet also raises the danger of the civil service expanding by a wide margin as the State hires staff for the new ministries.
Permanent secretaries, who will also number 40 earn a minimum of Sh213,640 and a maximum of Sh423,280 a month, besides the Sh80,000 and Sh75,000 they take home in entertainment and extraneous allowances.

Other senior government officers who enjoy fat cheques include deputy permanent secretaries, finance officers, directors in ministries as well as provincial and district commissioners.

Concern has been rising that these public officers take home fat pay cheques regardless of the state of the economy.

Ministerial positions place them favourably to influence the initiation, implementation and funding of projects under their dockets.

Sijui kama mmeona kuwa ni sisi tu wakenya tunaongea juu ya siasa zetu mbaya hapa hata kama nchi zingine ziko na shida zao za kisiasa lakini hawaongei juu ya siasa zao. Uchaguzi umeisha na vile naona, tutaendelea na hadithi zile tumezoea kama ufisadi na ulafi wa wanasiasa wetu. Tutaendelea tu kupaka matope juu ya vile wengine wanavyotazama nchi yetu bure. :ohno:

Sioni haja ya kuendelea na sehemu hii ya uchaguzi.

kwa sasa naonelea ni vizuri tuendelee na kujadiliana kuhusu mambo ya kiserekali lakini siasa zikitulia ndipo basi tuachane na sehemu hii.

Kenguy,

pia mimi nakubaliana na wewe.ndio maana sijakuwa niki andika kwa hii sehemu ya uchaguzi.
kwa sasa rafiki yangu nairoberry,na wakenya wetu wote,tafadhalie tuachane na hii sehemu ya siasa na uchaguzi,tuendelee na ku reporti mambo nzuri yenye yana fanyika nchini yetu.
Tukifanya hivi tutatengeneza sifa nzuri nchi yetu na wakenya wata faidikika.

PS:i know my swahili sucks,but i hope my message was clear.please lets cooperate on this issue we have discussed.its too much now.
SE9 and any moderator,please close this thread.

I think its wrong that you guys want to put blinkers on and pretend that everything is fine in kenya when we all know it is not. It does not matter what we try to tell our fellow african friends or whoever reads this furum about how amazing kenya is. We should give a legitimate view.

2 billion to pay 40 guys in a country that only collects less than 500 bill is a lot and is not something you can sweed down the carpet.

Im sick of us accepting ridiculous leadership and idiolising politicians just because they come from the same tribe as we do.

Untill we sort out our attitudes, Kenya and africa as a whole will never come out of the slump it is in.

lets take a poll, most votes in a total of five. YES to keep it going, NO to close it.

as it stands, 2 for yes(ewengai & nairoberry)
and 2 for no(kenguy & ernest)

the next kenyan forumer to vote descides the future of this thread

double post, sorry

I think its wrong that you guys want to put blinkers on and pretend that everything is fine in kenya when we all know it is not. It does not matter what we try to tell our fellow african friends or whoever reads this furum about how amazing kenya is. We should give a legitimate view.

2 billion to pay 40 guys in a country that only collects less than 500 bill is a lot and is not something you can sweed down the carpet.

Im sick of us accepting ridiculous leadership and idiolising politicians just because they come from the same tribe as we do.

Untill we sort out our attitudes, Kenya and africa as a whole will never come out of the slump it is in.
i do agree with you ewangai,and it makes me sick that Kenya politicians are very selfish.But there are positive things going on in kenya.and i think we have been through so much in the last couple of months.That is way we should focus on reconstruction and healing.this forum is really not appropriate for airing our dirty laundry since no politician will be reading this forum.We should discuss political issues in forums such as www.mashada.com
and other kenyan based forums.

and besides the cabinet has nothing to with the elections which were held last year.If we keep this going,then even things relating to the budget will be posted here.
anyway,lets wait for the 5th vote and see whether we should keep this thread going or not.

I was just saying what I think will be the future of this thread. Elections (if you can call them that) are over and frankly the only thing we will be posting here are the baggage that comes with politics eg. greed, power games e.t.c.

Im sure by now everyone knows the problems Kenya faces so we are not hiding anything. I dont really think we need a poll to close the thread, If you feel you want to go on its fine... only that by the time you are through, it will be time for thread no.2: Kenya elections 2012.

I wish for the day when we will mature in politics and Im not speaking of Kenya alone but also for most other African countries. Its roughly always the same stories over and over again in most nations I've been to.

i do agree with you ewangai,and it makes me sick that Kenya politicians are very selfish.But there are positive things going on in kenya.and i think we have been through so much in the last couple of months.That is way we should focus on reconstruction and healing.this forum is really not appropriate for airing our dirty laundry since no politician will be reading this forum.We should discuss political issues in forums such as www.mashada.com
and other kenyan based forums.

and besides the cabinet has nothing to with the elections which were held last year.If we keep this going,then even things relating to the budget will be posted here.
anyway,lets wait for the 5th vote and see whether we should keep this thread going or not.

I also agree with ewangai and ernest. I support the closure of this thread. Kenya has moved on and this sad episode is just an opportunity to re-focus and get to the dreamland that so many Kenyans know is possible.
Kuteleza sio kuanguka:dance2:

I also agree with ewangai and ernest. I support the closure of this thread. Kenya has moved on and this sad episode is just an opportunity to re-focus and get to the dreamland that so many Kenyans know is possible.
Kuteleza sio kuanguka:dance2:

the fifth vote has been cast in favour of shutting down this thread hence this thread is now closed no more posting on this thread as agreed by the kenyan forumers. please respect our descision and refrain from posting on here. se9 or any other mod, please close this thread

Cabinet talks collapse

Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 4/8/2008
Fresh disagreements between the Government and ODM on interpretation of the coalition agreement has dashed hope of a unity Cabinet being established.


ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses a news conference at Pentagon House on Monday. He is flanked by Pentagon members and party MPs.Photo by CHRIS OJOW
The widening gulf between the two sides became obvious in tense statements read out by President Kibaki and Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga after a day of frantic consultations between the two sides.

Not only did the two sides differ over distribution of key ministries, but they could not agree on whether the negotiations should include appointments of the head of the civil service and top civil servants, diplomats and parastatal bosses, among other things.

His version

Mr Odinga, giving his version of events which led to the talks breakdown, said that he and President Kibaki had agreed on the distribution of portfolios last Thursday, but the deal was suddenly cancelled.

And later, President Kibaki, in an evening address, accused ODM of changing the points that had been agreed upon and setting new conditions and ultimatum.

Flanked by top ODM politicians, Mr Odinga told reporters: “To overcome this terrible impasse and another looming crisis, our side has gone many extra miles and made an extraordinary number of concessions...This latest crisis in portfolio balance captures the astonishing lengths PNU is willing to go to ensure that it continues to monopolise power.”

And the President, speaking outside Harambee House, remarked: “Kenyans have waited patiently for us to conclude the formation of the coalition Government. I on my part has been ready since last week and was expecting to announce an expanded government yesterday and have been ready to do so today... I appeal to all Kenyans to be patient.”

Differed widely

A flurry of letters exchanged between the two sides over the past four days shows that they differed widely on their interpretation of key clauses of the agreement brokered by mediator Kofi Annan in February.

While Mr Odinga insisted that the Government had to be “a grand coalition of two equal partners sharing executive power on a 50-50 basis”, the Kibaki side were adamant that executive authority of the government was vested in the President.

The President had the constitutional authority of assigning any of the business of government by allocating portfolios to ministers.

But yesterday, both President Kibaki and Mr Odinga, however, said they were still committed to concluding formation of the expanded Cabinet and called for patience among Kenyans.

Said the President: “I invite Mr Odinga to engage constructively so that we can conclude the formation of the Government. I appeal to all Kenyans to be patient and assure them that we can conclude the formation of the government.”

And Mr Odinga, ending his address had said: “We are committed to the full and speedy implementation of the National Accord to resolve the crisis gripping our country.”

Each side had a different account of what led to the failure to set up a Cabinet.

According to Mr Odinga, the ODM had reluctantly accepted PNU’s insistence on a “bloated” 40-member Cabinet.

They had agreed to cede some of the most crucial ministries such as Finance, Defence, Internal Security and Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

He said that in turn it had been agreed ODM would get infrastructural ministries such as Energy, Transport and Roads as well as Local Government and Foreign Affairs.

“The response to our magnanimity from our side has been to retract every agreement we have finalised,” he said.

According to Mr Odinga, Internal Security minister George Saitoti was sent to ODM with a proposed list of 40 ministries and how they should be divided, which the party rejected.

The next day, he said, he and President Kibaki met for two hours and reached “concrete agreements” leading to the announcement that the Cabinet would be announced on Sunday.

He added: “On Saturday, I received from Mr Muthaura a letter unilaterally indicating that the Cabinet to be announced would be formed on the basis of an enclosed list of ministries and their allocations that we had rejected on April 2!’’

Mr Odinga said the ODM now expected the President to dissolve the half Cabinet that he had named and to negotiate afresh within the accord.

New demands

At Harambee House, President Kibaki accused the ODM team of bringing new demands despite agreeing with Mr Odinga that a complete cabinet was to be named yesterday.

“I was therefore surprised to receive a letter today with new pre-conditions and ultimatums, which are clearly not envisaged in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act,” the President said.

The head of state said he had agreed with Mr Odinga to conclude the matter today (yesterday) but expressed shock that the latter failed to turn up.

“Kenyans have patiently waited for us to conclude the formation of the coalition cabinet. I on my part have been ready since last week and was expecting to announce an expanded cabinet yesterday (Sunday) and have been ready to do so today (Monday),” said the President.

The Head of States said he had been available for the meeting with Mr Odinga since 4pm, hoping to reach an agreement on the contentious issues about the formation of an expanded Cabinet.

“I remain ready and willing to conclude the formation of the coalition cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity,” President Kibaki added.

To find an amicable solution to the crisis the President invited Mr Odinga “to engage constructively so that we can conclude the formation of the government”.

The Head of State said the matter must come to a close without further delay in order for the nation to move forward and focus on urgent matters like the resettlement of the internal refugees.

He appealed to Kenyans to be patient and assured them that the government business will continue as the matter is being finalised.

President Kibaki was accompanied by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, ministers Martha Karua, Uhuru Kenyatta, George Saitoti, Kiraitu Murungi, Samuel Poghisio and Noah Wekesa.

President Kibaki arrived at his office at 4.08 pm in the company of Attorney-General Amos Wako and the Head of the Civil Francis Muthaura.

Internal Security minister Prof Saitoti whose office is in the same building (Harambee House) had arrived at 2.45 pm.

Local government minister Mr Kenyatta arrived a few minutes later. He was followed by his Justice and Constitutional Affairs counterpart, Ms Karua who came 10 minutes before the President’s arrival.

Then the Vice President joined them at 4.12 pm. Later the team was joined by the Energy minister Mr Kiraitu Murungi his Science and Technology colleague, Dr Noah Wekesa.

It is during their meeting that the ODM pentagon members, Musalia Mudavadi, Najib Balala, Charity Ngilu and Joseph Nyaga came to deliver their reply letter to the President and his team.

Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno was also in the group.

They arrived at 5.50 pm and left barely after five minutes.

Yesterday was a day of shuttle diplomacy.

ODM held a meeting at Pentagon House at which some MPs are reported to have called for withdrawal from the talks altogether.

They then sent a letter to President Kibaki following the meeting which was attended by all the ODM Pentagon members.

Others present were party officials Henry Kosgey, Sally Kosgei, Joseph Nkaissery, Omingo Magara, Mr Fred Gumo, Mr Dalmas Otieno, Chris Obure, Amukowa Anangwe and Martin Shikuku.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, ODM spokesman Salim Lone, said the party would not mind ceding some ground if that will help reach an agreement.

“There is no favour. It has to be a government formed by two parties with full consent of both. The new coalition must be a government by two parties and not one to which other parties have been invited,” he stated.

Earlier, the two sides had blamed each other for the failure to name a Cabinet as promised by President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga after their talks on Sunday evening.

In a letter to President Kibaki, ODM protested at what they termed as attempts by PNU to short-change them in power-sharing.

Mr Odinga also accused PNU leaders of throwing obstacles on the road to the announcement of a new Cabinet by attempting to short-change them in the sharing of high profile ministries.

But in response, Civil Service Head Francis Muthaura, outlined the legal position of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act and the executive powers of the President.

Kisumu Youths in Demo Against Delayed Cabinet The Nation (Nairobi)


9 April 2008
Posted to the web 8 April 2008

Walter Menya
Nairobi

Demonstrations erupted in Kisumu on Tuesday over the stalemate in the formation of the coalition government.

Groups of youths barricaded roads with burning tyres and logs in Kondele area, which also bore the brunt of the post-election violence early this year.

The demonstrations quickly spread to other parts of the town including the main bus terminus.

Some of the residents interviewed said the demonstrations were an expression of the frustration over the failure to name the grand coalition government, and what they termed as "the ever shifting and unpredictable" state of the mediation talks aimed at facilitating the naming of the ministers.

They called for fresh elections to end the stalemate that has held back Cabinet appointments.

The largely peaceful demonstrators also directed their anger at the head of Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, for involving himself in politics and called for his resignation.

But some residents and the police were saying that the organised gangs who had taken over the roads were trying to capitalise on the tension occasioned by the stalemate to terrorise residents.

Kisumu police boss Simon Kiragu said the latest demonstrations began immediately after images of protests were reported in Kibera.
Relevant Links
East Africa
Kenya

The police had been on high alert throughout the day, patrolling the town streets after a section of the residents expressed fears that there could be fresh outbreak of violence.

But unlike the past events, yesterday protesters did not stone cars or harass pedestrians as was witnessed early in the year.

A section of the residents left work early, fearing that the situation would get worse.

Uneasy waters ahead:A sad day for Kenya as ODM pulls out of talks

Published on April 9, 2008, 12:00 am

By Ayub Savula and Joseph Murimi

It was a day of drawn swords after ODM announced it had pulled out of Cabinet talks, and PNU declared it was ready for elections if negotiations fail.

The combative mode heightened diplomatic activity and triggered a breakout of isolated violent demonstrations.

Protestors lit bonfires that literally sent black smoke billowing into the skies, as parents rushed to pick their children from school.

On Tuesday, ODM emerged from a joint extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) and Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting and slapped PNU with a raft of eight conditions it wants met before the talks can resume.

Top in its eight-point statement, the party stated that negotiations between ODM and PNU had been suspended until the latter fully recognised the 50-50 power-sharing arrangement and the principle of portfolio balance.

"This also means that executive power and authority must be shared between the Prime Minister and the President," the statement, signed by Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, the party secretary-general, said.

But PNU hit back with a declaration that it was ready for fresh elections should the Cabinet talks fold up. It also told ODM to drop all pre-conditions and return to the negotiating table "when there is still time".
...
On Tuesday night, sources told The Standard that Rice had also telephoned President Kibaki on another day of gripping anxiety as tension boiled over in Nairobi’s Kibera slums and Kisumu.

In Kibera, police used teargas and live bullets to battle protestors who had lit bonfires and blocked roads in the slum. The gangs also pulled out up to 90 metres of railway line, disrupting rail transport to the wider region.

Meanwhile, members of the press camped at Harambee House as early as 9am and were still waiting as dusk set in. The President did not turn up.

Emerging from the PNU PG, Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, said President Kibaki had the party’s full support should he dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections.

"President Kibaki is ready to take the bull by the horns and to take decisive action. The President cannot continue this way. We will support him even if he decides to dissolve Parliament,’’ Kalonzo, who was speaking after chairing the Government Coalition Parliamentary Group, stated.

He asked ODM to drop all pre-conditions and return to the negotiating table, saying the door was still open.

Kibera Residents have Uproted the railway lines. Kisumu residents are having running battles with the police again. Its only a matter of time before we go back to where we were in january.

Kibaki must be the Bigest Idiot in the world to play with his voters lives as if they were pea nuts. Raila must be preety heartless to allow people's tensions to rise again. I wish these guys could just take as much money as they want and leave us in peace.

Our beautifull country is slowly being torn apart by 2 people who seem to think the world revolves around them.

Cry for our beloved kenya.

SE9, great Job on the Kenyan Thread, This one deserves to be moved to our Oasis(Discussions) section.

SE9, great Job on the Kenyan Thread, This one deserves to be moved to our Oasis(Discussions) section.

^^why do we have to revive this thread?:dunno:

I don't think we are reviving it. It was just moved here since it was started when Kenya didn't have a section of its own.

Maybe its just as well, to remember how low we fell as a nation (this is by far the lowest point in Kenya's history) and maybe we can measure our progress in future using this point in history.

This thread as it were is a property of SSC-Kenya.(and thats where it deserves to be)