By Standard Reporter and PPS
President Kibaki has appointed Mutula Kilonzo the new Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs.
He has also appointed Mr Njeru Githae the new Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development, replacing Mutula.
Also appointed is Lewis Nguyai who becomes an Assistant Minister for Local Government.
The appointments were contained in a press release on Monday morning.
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| Mutula Kilonzo
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The press release said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had began consultations on the issue of Leader of Government Business in Parliament and chairmanship of the House Business Committee.
Some MPs rejected the President’s unilateral appointment of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka as Leader of Government Business in a controversial debate last week.
House Speaker Kenneth Marende last week ruled that in the absence of consensual communication from the Executive on the matter, he would hold the position on a temporary basis.
The two held consultations in the Office of the President at Harambee House, Nairobi.
Mutula has welcomed his transfer to the Justice and Constitutional Affairs ministry.
The outgoing Nairobi Metropolitan Development minister promised to be consulting constantly with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the way forward.
He said he felt humbled to learn that the two principals consulted before making the changes.
“Just as the President and the PM consulted prior to the announcement of the Cabinet reshuffle, I pledge to be consulting them occasionally over constitutionals issues for the good of the nation,” Mutula told The Standard.
He said he would work with “everybody on all sides” of the political divide to give Kenyans a new constitution.
“This is extremely a very challenging position, possibly more than ever before, but I will strive to do my best in ensuring institutional reforms Kenyans have yearned for decades are achieved within a reasonable time frame,” said the Senior Counsel.
Mutula, who becomes the country’s fifth minister to hold the Constitutional Affairs docket, called for support from all stakeholders in his new assignment.
The minister said he would wish to see every Kenyan respecting the rule of law and order, adding he was disturbed to see Kenyans “slaughtering each other like hens in the villages”.
He assured Kenyans he would not go to the new ministry only to work for his community or region but for the country.
The Mbooni MP said he had received many congratulatory telephone calls from his constituents and friends, including one from his wife Nduku, soon after the news of his appointment as Justice minister were broken by the media shortly before 1pm on Monday.
source.standard.ke
