KIBAKI -RAILA DISPUTE PERSISTS

THE STANDARD
NAIROBI, KENYA
April 12, 2009
By Standard on Sunday Team

President Kibaki stuck to silent mode on firestorm raging in the Grand Coalition over Easter as confusion reigned, following the collapse of crucial coalition talks at Kilaguni Lodge, last week. The President was neither seen in public nor heard of over the festive season, as Prime Minister Raila Odinga attended a funeral in Sabatia, Western Province, where politicians called on the two principals to reconcile their differences.

The unfolding drama heralds the second year of the querulous Grand Coalition Cabinet brought about by disputed elections, post-election violence, and subsequent power sharing accord signed in February, last year.

It also marks the first time since the onset of coalition reign, that the two principals are not talking and the Cabinet – the highest decision-making organ is in disarray. The house of ministers, too, has not met in weeks.

It was the week in which members of the splintered Cabinet rallied behind their party leaders, undermining free will, mutual respect, and the good will that are supposed to enrich a coalition.

Once gain, and in a very confusing manner, perception among Kenyans they just have one government on paper is bound to be reinforced – thanks to the PNU-ODM fault lines re-drawn by the collapse of Kilaguni talks, last week.

The nation seems to be gripped by fear following the subsequent criticism of the President by the PM, and the fight-back by PNU ministers.

As series of events across the week showed Kenyans could as well brace themselves for a rough sail between the reign of chaos and confusion, as the two pillars of Grand Coalition Cabinet play cat-and-mouse games, with each other.

As is discernible from the stories we tagged Reign of Chaos, we could be in for the long haul, especially given the intensity of shadow wars in the coalition, early campaigns for the 2012 General Election, and the political trickster stories in the Government.

Even more baffl ing, is whether the President is solely responsible for the current political quagmire, as the PM suggests, or whether the two principals have equally failed to deliver.

Convinced that the latter is the case, Church leaders are again asking President Kibaki and PM to steady the ship of Grand Coalition, which they say could easily capsize.

There is also a high possibility an emerging set of hardliners around the President, is fuelling hostilities and making negotiation impossible.

Only last week, a new advisory council of Vice-President, Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti was formed, to advise the President.

Growing rifts

Pundits opine the hidden and major role of this outfit is to widen the rift between the President and PM.
At risk would be the unfinished business of rallying Kenyans behind the planned constitutional overhaul,and reform of key national institutions.

In the meantime, retired President Moi asked members of Grand Coalition to stop infighting because the wounds of post-election violence have not healed.

"Kenyans deserve an untainted image to be able to seek, without hindrance, means of livelihood within the country and abroad," Moi said.

Speaking at the funeral of the elder sister of Deputy Prime Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, Raila, who on Friday pulled yet another political punch at President Kibaki, on Saturday appeared to soften – yet another sign of the chaotic relationship between the two leaders.

On Friday Raila had said of Kibaki: "You have let down the people of this great nation".

According to Raila the situation was worse than most Kenyans imagine.
But on Saturday he said the situation was not beyond salvage, he was not at war with Kibaki, and the problems in the coalition, like all others, have a solution.

He also hinted, even as the PNU side kept silent, President Kibaki and himself were planning another retreat to audit the stormy political marriage.

But on Friday Raila had said: "…It was then agreed that we embark on damage control strategy, which included, in part, President Kibaki and myself reading a statement jointly to assure Kenyans that all was well. I rejected the move, because all is not
well."

He added: "He (Kibaki) gave me an appointment letter, same as those handed out to ministers. How can one partner purport to appoint the other and even spell out his roles?"

That was the week Raila had dismissed the way the Government was being run as ‘primitive’ and jua kali (unsophisticated) style.

On Saturday, Raila struck a conciliatory note, saying: "Be assured the coalition will not collapse. We may have been quarrelling with President Kibaki, but we are not fighting. These are just issues we are going to iron out," said Raila.

He added: "The meeting we had planned at Kilanguni collapsed owing to some differences, but we shall plan another meeting soon to reflect on the
performance of the Government."