Kenya gets 41 Cabinet Ministers and 52 Assistant Ministers = 93 in Total. What a waste! Kibaki and Raila satisfies their men and women! Tax payer to suffer

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.Office of the GvtSpokesman

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GRAND COALITION GOVERNMENT

Fellow Kenyans,

I know that you have all been anxious to see the conclusion of the consultations on the formation of the new Coalition Government.

I am therefore pleased to announce that following extensive consultations within the coalition, and taking into consideration the current challenges facing the country as well as the need to ensure regional balance in the leadership of this country, I am today announcing the Cabinet of the Grand Coalition Government.

Fellow Kenyans,

The outcome of the General Elections brought to the fore unprecedented political challenges. The situation has required Statesmanship and sacrifices for the sake of national peace and unity.

The enactment of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008 and the agreement on the Cabinet underscores the commitment of our nation’s leadership to put the collective interest of the country and our people above everything else.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister Designate and all the political leaders throughout the country for upholding the spirit of dialogue, which enabled us to unlock the political deadlock.

I also commend the religious leadership, trade unions, human and professional bodies in our country that have supported dialogue and reconciliation to ensure that a peaceful settlement is concluded within the shortest time possible.

Furthermore, I thank the mediators led by His Excellency Kofi Annan as well as friendly countries which have supported and encouraged us to overcome the political challenges we have been experiencing.

Above all, I want to thank you, my fellow Kenyans, for your tolerance and patience throughout this period. I want to assure you all that I will do everything possible to ensure that our country Kenya, is steered along the path of peace, unity and stability.

Fellow Kenyans,

The multiparty politics that this country has embraced over the last 17 years has posed serious challenges to our national cohesion.

But the experience we have gained over the years, and this period in particular, has enabled us to overcome the difficulties, while we undertake necessary reforms to ensure that our country and people will be assured of living in a secure, cohesive and prosperous nation.

The enactment of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and the announcement of the new Cabinet today, demonstrates the commitment of the political leadership to move ahead and pay more attention to addressing the challenges facing our country and people.

Foremost, is the plight of our people – men, women and children – evicted from their homes and farms by the recent mindless violence and hooliganism. In that regard, my government has increased security presence in the affected areas in order to prevent a recurrence of the violence and mayhem.

We are also facilitating the displaced people to resettle back on their farms as we support them and the surrounding communities with farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. The new Cabinet will prioritize resettlement of the displaced people so that they can resume normal lives and play their part in nation-building.

I urge Cabinet members to spearhead the message of peace in all the affected areas.

Another area, is the need to ensure equal opportunities for all our people. In this respect, when I took over the leadership of this country, I pledged to commit more resources for the development of the Arid and Semi-Arid areas of our country which have in the past suffered neglect due to inadequate resources provisions and poor infrastructure.

In the Cabinet I am announcing today, I have therefore created a new Ministry for the development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands in order to focus on and address the unique challenges facing these areas.

The expanded Cabinet also introduces new Ministries to give priority attention to areas that are critical to the transformation of our country into a newly industrialized nation status. These include the Ministries of Industrialization, Planning and Vision TWENTY-THIRTY, and Nairobi Metropolitan Development.

Finally, I wish to reiterate and emphasize that all Kenyans enjoy equal rights under the law. In this respect, we cannot allow or tolerate discrimination of a Kenyan in whatever form. Every citizen must enjoy the right to work and to reap the benefits of his or her labour anywhere in the country without hindrance.

And therefore, the attitude, especially among some leaders, that communities should be restricted to particular areas or that some Kenyans can be perceived to be foreigners in some parts of the country is backward and unacceptable.

As we welcome foreign nationals to partner with us in developing our country, so must we welcome and embrace one another as brothers and sisters. Indeed, it is through such interaction that our country and communities can tap skills that will spur development.

The key to addressing the challenge of poverty is hard work to generate wealth and expand employment opportunities. So, my challenge to the new Cabinet Members and the entire national leadership at all levels is: let us put politics aside and get to work.

Let us build a new Kenya where justice is our shield and defender, and where peace, liberty and plenty will be found throughout our country.

I now announce the new Cabinet as follows:

Office of the President 

Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security

 

1. Minister: Hon. Professor George Saitoti

2· Assistant Minister: Hon. Simon Lesirma

3. Assistant Minister: Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode

Ministry of State for Defence

4. Minister: Hon. Yusuf Haji

5. Assistant Minister: Hon. David Musila

6. Assistant Minister: Hon. General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaisserry

Office of the Vice President

7. Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs: Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka

8. Assistant Minister: Hon. Lorna Laboso

Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons

9· Minister: Hon. Gerald Otieno Kajwang’

10· Assistant Minister: Hon. Francis Baya

Ministry of State for National Heritage & Culture:

11· Minister: Hon. William Ole Ntimama

12· Assistant Minister: Hon. Joel Onyancha Omagwa

Office of the Prime Minister:

13· Prime Minister: Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga

14· Assistant Minister: Hon. Alfred. Khang’ati

Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision Twenty Thirty:

15· Minister: Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya

16· Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Kenneth

Ministry of State for Public Service:

17· Minister: Hon. Dalmas Anyango Otieno

18· Assistant Minister: Hon. Aden Ahmed Sugow

Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Trade:

19· Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade: Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta

20· Assistant Minister: Hon. James Omingo Magara

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government

21· Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government: Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi

22· Assistant Minister: Hon. Robison Njeru Githae

Ministry of East African Community

23· Minister: Hon. Amason Kingi Jeffah

24· Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Munya

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

25· Minister: Hon. Moses Wetangula

26· Assistant Minister: Hon. Richard Momoima Onyonka

Ministry of Finance
27· Minister: Hon. Amos Kimunya

28· Assistant Minister: Hon. Dr. Oburu Oginga

Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs

29· Minister: Hon. Martha Karua

30· Assistant Minister: Hon. William Cheptumo Kipkorir

Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development

31· Minister: Hon. Mutula Kilonzo

32· Assistant Minister: Hon. Elizabeth Ongoro Masha

Ministry of Roads

33· Minister: Hon. Kipkalya Kones

34· Assistant Ministers: Hon. Wilfred Machage

35. Assistant Minsiter: Hon. Lee Kinyanjui

Ministry of Public Works
36· Minister: Hon. Chris Obure

37· Assistant Minister: Hon. Dickson Wathika Mwangi

Ministry of Transport

38· Minister: Hon. Chirau Ali Makwere

39· Assistant Minister: Hon. John Harun Mwau

Ministry of Water and Irrigation

40· Minister: Hon. Charity Kaluki Ngilu

41· Assistant Minister: Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri

Ministry of Regional Development Authorities
42· Minister: Hon. Fredrick Omulo Gumo

43· Assistant Minister: Hon. Judah Katoo Ole Metito

Information & Communications

44· Minister: Hon. Samuel Poghisio

45· Assistant Minister: Hon. George Munyasa Khaniri

46. Assistant Minister: Hon. Maj. (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana

Ministry of Energy

47· Minister: Hon. Kiraitu Murungi

48· Assistant Minister: Hon. Charles Keter

49. Assistant Minister: Hon. Maalim Mohamud Mohamed

Ministry of Lands

50· Minister: Hon. Aggrey James Orengo

51· Assistant Minister: Hon. Silvester Wakoli Bifwoli

52. Assistant Minister: Hon. Samwel Gonzi Rai

Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources

53· Minister: Hon. John Michuki

54· Assistant Ministers: Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe

55. Assistant Minister: Hon. Jackson Kiplagati Kiptanui

Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife

56.· Minister: Hon. Noah Wekesa

57· Assistant Minister: Hon. Josphat Koli Nanok

Ministry of Tourism

58· Minister: Hon. Mohamed Najib Balala

59· Assistant Minister: Hon. Cecily Mtito Mbarire

Ministry of Agriculture

60· Minister: Hon. William Samoei Ruto

61· Assistant Ministers: Hon Japhet Kareke Mbiuki

62. Assistant Minister: Hon. Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki

 Ministry of Livestock Development

 

 63· Minister: Hon. Mohamed Abdi Kuti

64· Assistant Minister: Hon. Bare Aden Duale

Ministry of Fisheries Development

65· Minister: Hon. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma

66· Assistant Minister: Hon. Mohamed Abu Abuchiaba

Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands

67· Minister: Hon. Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed

68· Assistant Minister: Hon. Hussein Tarry Sasura

Ministry of Cooperatives Development

69· Minister: Hon. Joseph Nyagah

70· Assistant Minister: Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo

Ministry of Industrialization

71· Minister: Hon. Henry Kiprono Kosgey

72· Assistant Minister: Hon. Ndiritu Murithi

Ministry of Housing

73· Minister: Hon. Peter Soita Shitanda

74· Assistant Minister: Hon. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Kariuki

Ministry of Special Programmes

75· Minister: Hon. Dr. Naomi Namsi Shabani

76· Assistant Minister: Hon. Mohamed Muhamud Ali

Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs

77· Minister: Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge

78· Assistant Minister Hon. Atanas Manyala Keya

Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation

79· Minister: Hon. Hon. Beth Wambui Mugo

80· Assistant Minister: Hon. Dr. James Ondicho Gesami

Ministry of Medical Services

81· Minister: Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o

82· Assistant Minister: Hon. Danson Buya Mungatana

Ministry of Labour

83· Minister: Hon. John Kiyonga Munyes

84· Assistant Minister: Hon. Sospeter Ojamaa Ojamong’

Ministry of Youth and Sports

85· Minister: Hon. Dr. Helen Jepkemoi Sambili

86· Assistant Minister: Hon. Wavinya Ndeti

87. Assistant Minister: Hon. Kabando wa Kabando

Ministry of Education

88· Minister: Hon. Samson Kegeo Ongeri

89· Assistant Ministers: Hon. Prof. Patrick Ayiecho Olweny

90. Assistant Minister: Hon. Andrew Calist Mwatela

 

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

91· Minister: Hon. Dr. Sally Jepngetich Kosgey

92· Assistant Ministers: Hon. Kilemi Mweria

93. Assistant Minister: Hon. Asman Abongotum Kamama

Office of the Attorney General

. Attorney General: Hon. Amos Wako

 

Thank you, God Bless you all and God Bless Kenya.

 

 

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This is the largest cabinet in the whole world. Even developed countries do not do this! What will happen to the economy? A lot of money will go to salaries for the ministers. The west will have to pump money to Kenya in form of loans or aid and all that will go to salaries. If the west does not do so, then the tax payers in Kenya must pay the huge salaries that the ministers will take home to their families.

Was it really necessary to have such a large cabinet simply to please every party supporter in the hiarachi?

It will now be good to watch what the US and the UK will say. They are the one who have been pushing for the formation of a cabinet. It has happened. Will they now come and demand more, on the number of appointments?

 

 

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African Press International – api

The Kenyan leaders demonstrate leadership – reaching agreement at last

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.nation.ke

Kibaki to name Cabinet

Story by ANTHONY KARIUKI

President Kibaki is set to name a Coalition Cabinet after finally agreeing a power sharing list with Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga.

 

 

President Kibaki walks to a Kenya Airforce chopper after meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga at the Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri, yesterday. Photo/Paul Wanjiru

The President will unveil the much-awaited Cabinet at State House, Nairobi at 4pm.

This follows day-long consultations that the President Kibaki held with Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga at Sagana state lodge on Saturday.

A statement released by the Presidential Press Service said: “A breakthrough was made in the talks and President Kibaki and Hon Raila agreed to the announcement of the Cabinet today.” 

President Kibaki and Raila met from noon in a closed door meeting that  lasted till 6 pm. 

In a break from previous meetings, no politicians were in attendance.

Head of the Civil Service Francis Mutharua and Mohammed of the Orange Democratic Movement Isahakia accompanied the two leaders.

Saturday’s meeting was the first since talks collapsed after disagreements arose over sharing out of ministries.

ODM withdrew from the talks and blamed PNU over failure on portfolio balance. The party said it had reached an “irreducible minimum” after ceding powerful dockets of Finance, Defence, Internal Security and Justice and Constitutional Affairs to PNU.

ODM then lay claim to key ministries of Foreign Affairs, Local Government, Energy, Roads, Transport and a new docket, Cabinet Affairs but PNU refused to yield these ministries.

The stalemate was blamed on hardliners from both sides.

There has been renewed tension in the country that a new wave of violence was likely to arise following the deadlock. 

In the past week, violence has been witnessed in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, located in Raila’s constituency, and his rural backyard of Kisumu over the delayed naming of the Cabinet.

The ODM leader is set to be named as Prime Minister when the new Government is unveiled. The President will also name two deputy premiers from each side. 

The ODM leader will become only the second person to hold the PM office after President Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, briefly occupied the office after Kenya gained Independence from Britain in 1963.

The breakthrough comes against a backdrop of sustained pressure from the International Community, the Church, civil society, politicians and the Kenyan public on the two leaders to agree on a final list.

Kenya was thrown into a political turmoil after the December 27 presidential election failed to produce a clear winner. The violence that followed left more than 1,000 people dead, over 350,000 displaced and property worth billions of shillings destroyed.

It took the intervention of the international community, acting through the African Union, to broker a peace deal between the two leaders in an effort led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

The announcement will come as a relief to the thousand of Inernally Displaced Persons (IDPs) -uprooted from their homes after violence broke out in the wake of disputed presidential results – living in tented camps countrywide, who are keen on a political settlement so that they return to their homes.

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Korir-API

The cabinet to be named today – good for the country

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.kbc.ke

Grand Coalition cabinet to be unveiled

Written By:PPS   , Posted: Sun, Apr 13, 2008

President Mwai Kibaki is Sunday afternoon set to unveil the Grand Coalition Cabinet.

This follows daylong consultations that the president held with Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga at secluded Sagana state lodge in Nyeri on Saturday.

During their consultations, the two principals agreed to announce the cabinet at State House Nairobi through a live broadcast in both radio and television at 4 PM.

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Korir-API

Nigerien army kills MNJ rebels in north, official sources announce

Publisher: korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

The Nigerien government said it carried out an offensive against the rebels of the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) in the north and east of the country, which they said killed five rebels and seized various weapons, APA learned Friday in Niamey, the capital.

From 5 to 7 April, there was a skirmish between the army and a “groups of armed gangsters” in Aïr (north) and the Lake Chad zone (east), the national defense minister said in release APA received on Friday.

According to the authorities, the army killed five “armed gangsters” and seized 5 weapons and ammunition including one Toyota vehicle, whereas no casualties were noted on the side of the loyal forces.

In addition, the same source said, the soldiers of the multinational force (Niger, Nigeria and Chad) who patrolled the bed of Lake Chad had killed a rebel and had recovered a weapon during skirmishes with assailants who “attacked and plundered peaceful citizens at the Lake Chad basin”.

A Nigerien soldier had also died of his injuries during this confrontation, the national defense minister said.

The release pointed out that the Nigerien soldiers continue their mission “with all the necessary professionalism and understanding to restore peace and safety in the Agadez region, while upholding international humanitarian law and laws and rules of the republic.”

Last Monday, the MNJ announced launching a new base in eastern Niger with troops of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Sahara (FARS) rebel group.

The rebel movement, which is not recognized by the Niamey authorities, also averred it killed 7 soldiers and captured 6 others, during clashes with a detachment of the Niger army in the east of the country.

In late March 2008, the Nigerien army said it carried out a large-scale offensive, for ten days, against the MNJ bases in the solid mass of Aïr (north) during which five soldiers and ten rebels were killed.

Six other soldiers were injured, including three by a tank mine explosion, said Lieutenant-Colonel Albdoul Karim Goukoye, spokesman of the Niger army.

The army had also announced to have destroyed two 4wheel drive cars and seven motor bikes, and to have seized MNJ documents, drugs, a satellite telephone and uniforms.

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API_

OIC becomes member of Chad-Sudan Contact Group

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has become a member of the Contact Group which was set up to follow-up the peace agreement signed between Chad and Sudan on 13 March in Dakar.

OIC’s membership was officially announced during the first meeting by the contact group that was held Thursday in the Gabonese capital, Libreville.

The OIC was an observer in the contact group made up of Congo, Eritrea, Libya, Gabon, Senegal, Sudan, and Chad.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan El-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby signed a peace agreement at the merges of the 11th OIC Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008.

The pact aimed at ending the cross-border rebel attacks in both country’s border region which includes Sudan’s war-battered Darfur region.

According to a final statement issued at the end of the Libreville meeting, the contact group has urged Ndjamena and Khartoum to stop making media statements that could worsen their relationship over the conflict.

The pact also calls on both parties to inform the contact group about any breach of the Dakar agreement.

On last Wednesday, Chad accused Sudan of arming the Chadian rebels that were plotting a large-scale offensive against its government.

On Thursday, Sudan denounced Chadian government’s support to the Sudanese rebel groups in Darfur.

The contact group did make any statement on the two protagonists’ claims about the breach of the Dakar peace deal.

The group however appealed to President Denis Sassou N’guesso and his Senegalese and Gabonese counterparts, Abdoulaye Wade and Omar Bongo Ondimba respectively, to pursue initiatives that could lead to a lasting solutions of the conflict and the two leaders.

The Foreign Affairs ministers of the contact group expressed their concern over the upsurge of tension between Chad and Sudan, and called for the respect of the Dakar peace deal.

The next meeting of the contact group is billed for early May in Tripoli, Libya.

Prior to this gathering, the defence, security and information experts from member states of the contact group, will meet on 28 April at the same venue to study and plan the rapid deployment of the joint border patrol force that will monitor the implementation of the Dakar peace agreement.

Among the seven countries of the contact group, only Sudan was not represented at the ministerial level.

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API

British gov’t infuses £2 million into Liberia’s health sector

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

Barely a week after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s return from London, the British government has announced a 2 million pound (equivalent to US$4 million) assistance to Liberia’s health sector.

A presidential mansion press statement on Friday said a representative of the British Department for International Development (DFID), Mr. Desmond Curran made the announcement when she met with President Johnson Sirleaf at the foreign ministry in Monrovia.

Curan disclosed that the British government, through DFID would contribute 4 million pounds (8 million US dollars) over the next two years to the pooled fund for the implementation of the government of Liberia’s national health plan.

Mr. Curran expressed his government’s pleasure in joining Liberia’s path towards national recovery.

Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has welcomed the British government’s assistance to Liberia’s health sector.

She recounted the fruitful talks she had with Prime Minister Gordon Brown during her recent visit to Britain, saying that the British Prime Minister affirmed his government’s support towards Liberia’s national recovery.

She observed that if Liberia’s goal of becoming a post-conflict success story is to be realised, such partnerships like British-Liberia relations would be crucial.

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API

Morocco calls for global strategic partnership with Madrid

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

King Mohammed VI of Morocco upon congratulating Saturday the leader of the Spanish government, José Luis Zapatero for his re-election for a second term, expressed the desire of his country to hoist the cooperation with Madrid to a global strategic level.

The Cherifian King expressed his firm desire to cooperate with the leader of the Spanish government to raise to the highest level the fruitful, privileged relations and good neighbourliness that link the two friendly countries and thus raise them to a global strategic partnership.

The expected partnership should rest upon “solid bases of mutual trust, respect and continuous consultation on all common interest bilateral, regional and international issues”, King Mohamed VI underscored.

“In fact, we have the ambition of making these relations a solid bridge for the Maghreb, Mediterranean and Euro-African partnership”, the Moroccan King said. He was among the first heads of state to hail socialist Zapatero upon his victory at the Spanish legislative polls held on March 9th.

The victory of Zapatero for the second time “is more than a mere renewal of the great trust of the neighbouring and friendly Spanish people in you as an exceptional leader and in your great respectful political party as it constitutes the democratic expression of your deserved consecration to continue your mission”, King Mohammed VI intimated.

The relations between Rabat and Madrid have gone through a diplomatic row last November after the visit of the Spanish King, Juan Carlos I to Ceuta and Melilla, which are claimed by Morocco, but have been under Spanish domination since 1497.

Rabat had condemned the visit, the first of the kind over 80 years, and had recalled its ambassador to Madrid back home for consultation for more than two months.

At the economic level, trade has increased by about 300% from 1998 to 2007 between the two countries, totalling 5.5 billion euros.

These flows represent about 25% of all the trade between the Cherifian Kingdom and the European Union (61.5% of Morocco’s trade with the rest of the world).

About 900 Spanish companies are established in Morocco in various sectors of activity with a strong presence in public construction works launched in Morocco since 2001, particularly the Tangiers-Med port, motorways and tourist resorts.

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API

Netherlands informs Egypt of postponement of screening of offensive film

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

The Netherlands officially informed Egypt that Dutch citizen Ihsan Jamie, who intended to screen the cartoon film on the life of Prophet Muhammad on April 20 has now given up the idea.

The Netherlands ambassador to Egypt, Mr. de Rfan on Saturday handed over a letter from his government on this matter to the Egyptian minister of Religious Affairs, Dr Hamdi Zaqzouq.

The message pointed out that Jamie expressed concern that his film will cause the split within Dutch society.

It is said that the film included some abusive scenes against the Prophet Mohammed.

Many Egyptian media organizations had started a few days ago implementing an expanded campaign to boycott Dutch goods and products in protest against screening of the film, and Egyptian public opinion responded positively to this campaign.

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API