RAILA THREATENS TO WALK OUT OF COALITION

THE STANDARD
NAIROBI, KENYA
April 6, 2009
BY STANDARD TEAM

Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched a vicious attack on President Kibaki over the slow pace of reforms even as Justice Minister Martha Karua gave the strongest hint that she would quit Government.

Raila’s attack on the President — the first since the Coalition Government was formed a year ago — came only a day after a retreat by a committee of Cabinet ministers ended in disarray on Saturday.

Raila warned that ODM could pull out if comprehensive reforms were not put in place.

This happened even Karua said she could quit her Cabinet position if she was not given a free hand in running the affairs of her ministry. President Kibaki last week appointed seven judges without her knowledge.

Raila on his part, while addressing a rally at Makongeni estate in Nairobi Sunday, asked: "What kind of Government are we leading yet when I speak as the Prime Minister and he (Kibaki) contradicts me?"

But Kibaki was not there to defend himself against Raila’s accusations, having left the country for a regional meeting in Zambia, leaving that task to Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and other ministers.

Raila walked out

Speaking only a day after the stalled talks at Kilaguni Serena Lodge, Raila said: "He (Kibaki) has no respect for me. Respect is a two-way traffic. We have been patient enough. We signed the National Accord to restore peace but we are being taken for granted. From today we will go back to the people and demand reforms," Raila said.

Raila said he was convinced that ODM won the 2007 General Election and so would not hesitate to return to the ballot.

On her part, Karua left no doubts about her imminent departure from Government.

"I have done a lot as a backbencher," Karua said at St Stephen’s Church on Jogoo Road, where ODM politicians were in attendance.

"Mtu akikupa jembe halafu akufunge mikono, utawezaje kuifanya hiyo kazi? (How can you perform a task when someone gives you a hoe and then ties your hands?)"

After the collapse of the coalition talks at Kilaguni Serena Lodge in Tsavo West game reserve Kibaki and Raila’s parties gave different versions of what led to the collapse of the retreat.

Kibaki’s Party of National Unity PNU issued a press statement in Nairobi Sunday, reacting to Raila’s on Saturday evening, accusing him of walking out on Kibaki.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who read PNU’s statement accompanied by seven ministers and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, flanked by 23 MPs and seven Cabinet ministers at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi declared that in spite of the Saturday events, "the grand coalition is not about to collapse because no one is talking about running away from the coalition."

Transport minister Ali Mwakwere accused ODM of exhibiting arrogance for leaving the talks and claimed Raila walked out on Kibaki.

Uhuru accused ODM of trying to push for the recruitment and appointments into the armed forces on party lines. "ODM wants PNU and ODM military officers," said Kenyatta who also accused Raila of refusing to "meet the President at some stage."

Internal Security minister George Saitoti claimed the coalition "is not collapsing as portrayed in the media" but accused ODM of introducing an agenda that could not be discussed at Kilaguni.

Battle over jobs

Musyoka claimed the talks collapsed because ODM sprung an agenda on PNU about constitution of the Armed Forces, appointments to diplomatic missions and civil service that he alleged could not be discussed by the Permanent Committee on the Management of the Grand Coalition Affairs or outside comprehensive review of the Constitution.

He also alleged that ODM wanted to discuss Government Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura and re-negotiate the National Accord.

"It is clear that out coalition partners are seeking re-negotiation of the February 2008 National Accord," said the VP who also alleged that PNU wanted to discuss fast implementation of Agenda 4 on long term solutions to Kenya’s problems, impunity and review implementation of the National Accord.

But ODM disputed documents issued by Musyoka.

The PM’s office immediately released documents and claimed copies of reports issued by PNU at its press briefing yesterday were falsified, selective and a misrepresentation of proceedings between the two parties before and after the abortive retreat.

Two centres of power

Both parties, however, were in agreement that a pre-retreat agenda and programme had been published after extensive consultations.

Reactions to the stalemate were varied. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Dr Bonny Khalwale, Assistant Minister Silvester Wakoli and Matungu MP David Were called on Kibaki and Raila to take full charge of their coalition blocs and move the country forward.

Wakoli said Kibaki and Raila may be genuine in their dealings but their close political lieutenants are behind the friction in the Coalition Government.

Khalwale said Kibaki and Raila should adhere to the National Accord and work together instead of engaging in fights for political supremacy.

"It is coming out clearly that we have two centres of power and Kenyans need to brace for hard times," said Khalwale who is the Ikolomani MP.

Speaking on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi said time could be running out for the full implementation of Agenda Four of the National Accord.

Echoing Chief Mediator Kofi Annan’s sentiments, Mudavadi said Kenya has just 15 months to implement the reform agenda, adding that the country should not wait any longer.

Mudavadi noted that there are over 1.2 million people in the voters’ register who have since died.

"After 15 months, implementation of the reform agenda might be hard because we would have neared the General Election," he said.

Yesterday, Mudavadi said those calling for elections now are misleading the country.

"The country is yet to deal with the issue of impunity, a new Constitution and a new electoral body," said Mudavadi, who is also the Sabatia legislator.

Mudavadi was speaking at the launch of Sabatia Constituency strategic plan at Moi Girls, Vokoli.

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