Cabinet rejects formation of grand opposition

Publisher; Korir, africanpress@getmail.no source.standard.ke

BY Standard TeamCabinet ministers closed ranks to overrule the formation of a grand opposition.

In their first meeting since the formation of a grand coalition, chaired by President Kibaki, the ministers agreed that opposition was not necessary, as it would rock their unity.

The meeting on Thursday also agreed to open dialogue with the outlawed Mungiki sect. Sources said the Cabinet was unanimously united against a grand opposition with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and the Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, leading the drive against the push. The coalition, they said, needed cohesion not divisive effects.

Ministers who spoke on the issue and other rocky items insisted that everything possible should be done to keep the coalition together.

“I can tell you there is no fallback position in the coalition which will last till 2012,” said a minister from Eastern Province who sought anonymity.

“We agreed that we have no option but to pull together. All of us have to extend our goodwill to the coalition. Nothing more, nothing less,” said the minister, one of the few who spoke to journalists as others remained tight-lipped.

The Cabinet thrashed out key areas that have been threatening the coalition, giving hope that the partners would stand together.

The tone of the first Grand Coalition Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Kibaki at State House, was “unite or perish”, according to ministers who spoke to The Standard in confidence.

The meeting, which had started at 10am under a shroud of strained relations mainly caused by calls for formation of a Grand Opposition, ended with the Cabinet agreeing to strive to keep the coalition together until 2012.

President Kibaki set the mood of the meeting with the words: “We must have the drive to succeed in serving our country and Kenyans at large. There is much expectation from the Kenyan people and we must deliver on the promises we made.”

Another minister from Nyanza said: “The beginning was difficult but after we understood our common course, we spoke from the same script and if you can read my body language everyone is hopeful.”

However, before the meeting stabilised, it was rocked by a flare-up between two senior ministers who argued over one of the prickly issues — the call to release suspects of post-election violence in Rift Valley.

A minister from the Rift Valley had proposed that the suspects be released since reconciliation had taken shape.

But the Minister from Central Province said everybody who took part in violence must face justice. It took the intervention of other ministers to calm the two down as they took on each other.

Another issue that cropped up in the meeting was the recent return into the country of businessman, Mr Deepak Kamani.

Delicate issues

Sources said a Minister questioned under what circumstances Kamani had returned to the country and settle normally despite having been named a suspect in the Anglo-Leasing case.

“The image of Kenya is being dented. We must unanimously be seen to act against corruption,” the minister was quoted saying.

President Kibaki maintained that those implicated in graft, including Cabinet ministers, would have to step aside to allow for investigations.

The debate on whether or not to talk with outlawed militia groups was raised. It was agreed that dialogue that can lead to improved security should be encouraged.

Cabinet was told by one minister that talks with Mungiki would kick off next week.

Raila had on Wednesday said he would lead the Government in seeking dialogue with Mungiki and other militias.

A statement issued by the Presidential Press Service after the meeting said the meeting dwelt largely on security, the Grand Coalition, resettlement of IDPs, development of infrastructure and tackling famine in the country.

The meeting, according to PPS, agreed on the formation of five Cabinet committees to handle the most pressing issues.

The committees to be formed will be National Security; Finance; Administration and Planning; Infrastructure; Services and Production.

The President will chair the National Security committee, while the Prime Minister will chair the other four with assistance of his two deputies.

Other issues discussed in the meeting include the broad reform agenda and delivering a new Constitution by next year.

Ministers drawn from parties that form the coalition sat side by side in the rectangular seating arrangement. Kalonzo sat to the President’s right while Raila sat to his left.

In his opening remarks, the President challenged members of the Cabinet to resist being distracted by issues that would delay implementation of crucial Government programmes aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged members of the society.

The meeting started with a word of prayer by the Minister for Co-operatives Development, Mr Joseph Nyagah.

They first discussed measures to enhance security around the country, and the policy the Government would adopt in resolving issues like Mungiki sect and other militia.

The resettlement progress for the internally displaced was discussed at length, with the ministers calling for speedy resettlement.

“Members agreed on the approach to be taken in the second phase of re-settling those who were staying with well-wishers and relatives. In the next few months the Government will continue assisting those who are re-settling until they have resumed their normal lives,” said the PPS statement.

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