ODM MPS HOLD CRUCIAL TALKS ON COALITION

DAILY NATION
By NATION TEAM
January 6 2009

ODM Members of Parliament and the party’s National Executive Committee will on Wednesday hold a meeting that is likely to have far-reaching implications on the Coalition Government.

Top on the agenda is the party’s position on the controversial Kenya Communication (Amendment) Act.

Also high on the list is the place and conduct of the office of the head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Francis Muthaura.

The MPs and NEC members will also push a proposal for the Cabinet to discuss restructuring of the Government with a view to placing Mr Muthaura under the PM’s docket in line with his role as supervisor and coordinator of Government programmes.

On Tuesday, Cabinet ministers Musalia Mudavadi, James Orengo and Otieno Kajwang’ said Mr Odinga’s powers were vested in the Constitution and were not delegated.

Mr Orengo questioned Mr Muthaura’s position, saying it was not recognised in the Constitution and had no place in the coalition.

The statement comes just a day after 13 ODM ministers met Mr Odinga and declared that they would push for Mr Muthaura to work under the PM or his office be abolished.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua and President Kibaki’s special advisors Kivutha Kibwana and Raphael Tuju could also find themselves on the receiving end of ODM’s ire.

It is understood that four civil servants at the Office of the President were key to the assenting of the anti-media Bill.

Conflict

Elsewhere, Mr Odinga has admitted the existence of a conflict between his office and the Head of Public service.

In an interview with the US’s Los Angeles Times, Mr Odinga said that although he had a cordial working relationship with President Kibaki, some individuals in the Government derailed his work. He singled out Mr Muthaura’s docket.

Separately, Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ said the fight against the Communication Act will be political. Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, the Immigration minister said there are fundamental differences between ODM and PNU on several provisions of the Act.

“Whereas PNU believes some of the provisions will put checks on certain excesses of the media, ODM believes it will reverse democratic gains,” he said.

Reports by David Mugonyi, Alphonce Shiundu and Caroline Wafula

COMMENTS:

Submitted by holomisa
Posted January 07, 2009 02:27 PM

Let's put it like this: Kibaki exercises his powers through Muthaura. I dont see anything wrong with that. The guy is just a messenger.

Submitted by tomniwao
Posted January 07, 2009 02:03 PM

Mr. Muthaura should relax and obey the two executive offices to deliver to Kenyas what they promised.That includes reorganising the ECK. ODM is right to demand what they know is their right to protect the country from more chaos!!

Submitted by karibu09
Posted January 07, 2009 12:24 PM

When all is done there still will be a person heading the bereaucracy, whoever that person will be, will always be very vicible in the corridors of powers.As a principle of power sharing Raila is senior to muthaura,what is all this noise ?

Submitted by PMM75
Posted January 07, 2009 12:01 PM

BUSY BODIES,,,,seriously ODM take Kenyans for fools. Use your numerical strength in parliament to tame PNU and deliver services to Kenyan

Submitted by patrick_milo
Posted January 07, 2009 11:46 AM

The only way for the ODM to salvage themselves is now! You are still the darling of the people.You have the majority in parliament, you are still the most popular party according according to recent polls by steadman.This people are impossible to work with.The PNU lot haven't realised that power is being shared, they want to make unilateral decision as if they won the elections! Quit now and lets go to the elections.Nothing has changed;the animals are still the same, may be the forest has.

Submitted by muteule
Posted January 07, 2009 11:41 AM

The ODM controls bunge and should negotiate with Kibaki as such. The PM should force a just settlement. If Kibaki had the will to do unpopular things for the common good, he would have dealt with the Mau issue ages ago. These people do not give a red cent about Kenya. It's all private interests--tumbo.

Submitted by victorKinyanjui
Posted January 07, 2009 11:04 AM

Two decades ago, Hon. Orengo was my die hard political idol. I mean, I really admired his eloquence, reason and courage. But with years gone, it seems the Kenyan politics can eat-up one’s conscience. Somehow along the years, whatever he brings up lacks connections or consistency. A few months ago, it was him versus Kimunya – the result, a quagmire. Weeks later, he was displaying fake “Title Deeds”; now he has gone personal with Muthaura and displaying some paper containing Media Bill! Orengo please leave this kind of errands to Kajwang, you are way above these misdenemours.

Submitted by Obwakemwatugul
Posted January 07, 2009 10:58 AM

If Raila was allowed to take up presidency which he won, there would be alot of progress now. Why PNU is fighting ODM and the Media is because PNU perceives that media contributed to the success of ODM in the elections including revealing the rigged elections. Crippling the media will still give a chance for future rigging of elections by these 'democratic guys'

Submitted by iawe
Posted January 07, 2009 09:59 AM

I see sheer political opportunism in all this posturing. ODM wants to gain political mileage out of this fiasco. And by the way nobody talks about MPs taxation anymore. Now the hot topic is the Media Bill. We should start talking about taxes again.

Submitted by DoctorsMess
Posted January 07, 2009 09:56 AM

Response to Macharia! You should not cry foul, no one hates Gema, all the few wealthy Kikuyu politicians are hiding behind the Gema, in real sense Kibaki has done more harm than good to Kikuyus by signing the media bill.

Submitted by Dauddy
Posted January 07, 2009 09:34 AM

Orengo, Kajwang and their ilk need to remember the President did not go to Parliament to pass the bill; MPs DID (and lest they've forgotten, the 2 of them are part of that group). Evidently the ODM in parliament is different from the ODM outside parliament. They were elected to represent their constituent's views IN PARLIAMENT not in conference rooms and press conferences.

Submitted by njagatm
Posted January 07, 2009 08:06 AM

Where else but Kenya can a party that has a marjority in parliament blame the minority party for a law that was debated and passed by that very same parliament? Where else can voters be so gullible as to swallow that whole?

Submitted by judmut
Posted January 07, 2009 07:30 AM

ODM must separate it self from the government, the issue is not about the media. There is a lot more to it. The leaders who are named for the violence last year, also Kibaki is trying to secure his successor come 2012, who will protect him from any accusation that might come up after he retires. Of course Raila is well known for his radical ways of doing things, Kibaki and others would not want to see him become the next president.

Submitted by JOBWAPILI
Posted January 07, 2009 02:53 AM

The Prime Minister should exercise his full constitutional authority in coordinating and supervising all government, which includes Muthaura's office. Insurbodination and gross impunity must have consequences in any functioning organization. The coalition has only two principals and Muthaura or whatever is neither of them. Its time for these little old people to retire.

Submitted by njororay
Posted January 07, 2009 02:39 AM

Why does ODM wait to read the public mood before making a decision. They themselves voted for the bill why make a U turn? Sometimes leaders have to make very difficult decisions which do not go well with everyone. If this is the way ODM wants to rule Kenya from 2012 GOD FORBID!! I see total Anarchy in kenya as they try to outdo each other inorder to make everyone happy. Even in the Bible Jesus had to make hard choices and most of them were not in favour with everyone.

Submitted by Kiarutara
Posted January 07, 2009 01:44 AM

Muthaura in MOU, Muthaura in the grand coalition, Muthaura with Raila, at least now its not the 5 Mt Kenya mafias these guys were paranoid about in 2002-07 government. ODM will always make up a reason to solicit a sympathy vote from in and out of the country. I guess they'l tell us Muthaura passed the Media Bill in Parliament. Just a selfish bunch of moaners who will never deliver anything to the country.

Submitted by Kathungu
Posted January 07, 2009 01:25 AM

I think ODM should make up its mind to stay in the coalition or not once and for all. Kenyans are still in IDP camps, the cost of living is a nightmare to the ordinary folks, land isssues, drought etc and I dont think Muthaura, Mutua, Kivutha and Tuju should pre-occupy ODM so much and unless ODM are questioning the appointing authority as vested in the constitution they should stop whinning and get down to serve Kenyans period.

Submitted by macharia1
Posted January 07, 2009 12:21 AM

This is another hate campaign towards Gema community by Orengo. Remember what he said against Kimuya to change his statement in court. I think it time for Kenya leaders to grow up.

Submitted by MichaOlga
Posted January 06, 2009 11:51 PM

What? Now one year later they realize they don't want to be in a coalition? Make up your minds fellows. It doesn't look good when our children are looking up only to see a confused lot who don't know what they want.