Kalonzo Musyoka is the vice president. He knows he is number 2 in the hierachy that rules Kenya. His problem is that he wants to be understood and respected, especially when it comes to the coalition deal between him and Kibaki before Raila’s ODM came.
Kalonzo has positioned himself well. He knows by entering into coalition with Kibaki as early as he did, he did the right thing for himself and the president who rewarded him with the vice presidency. He knows also that as a principal assistant to the president, he is the man to take over power in casethe president is absent one way or another.
When Kibaki travels out of the country, it is the VP that takes charge and in that strenghens Kalonzo’s future intention to become Kenya’s 4th president.
API
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Bills on coalition to pass this week
Story by BOB ODALO
Publication Date: 3/16/2008
The two crucial bills required to legitimise the grand coalition government are likely to be passed next week to get Parliament rolling, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has said.
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Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. Photo/ FILE |
The National Accord and Reconciliation Bill and the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill are required to put into effect the power-sharing agreement that was signed between President Kibaki and the Orange Democratic Leader, Raila Odinga.
By passing the bills, MPs will put into legislation the posts of prime minister and two deputies and will clarify their roles.
We dont want to waste time in passing the bills and MPs are gearing to do just that, Mr Musyoka said.
The VP said this while addressing the mourners who had attended the burial of retired Machakos Catholic Bishop Urbanus Kioko who was laid to rest on Friday.
As we wait for Parliament to do what Kenyans are yearning for this week, we should not forget that the country has not risen up yet from the ethnic clashes, we are still facing the bigger problem of the Internally Displaced Persons, the VP cautioned.
Mr Musyoka defended his decision to get into a coalition with President Kibaki soon after the disputed presidential results were announced, saying his move was well-advised.
He said that Ukambani was among the few regions that never witnessed the post-election violence that began soon after the December 27 presidential results were announced. He suggested that it might be because he had joined ranks with President Kibaki.
Mr Kalonzo said that in order to prevent the country from self-destructing through ethnic-based violence, the three presidential candidates, President Kibaki, Mr Odinga and himself, had opted to abandon their individual ambitions and seek to work in a grand coalition.
Wiper (Mr Kalonzos campaign slogan) has taken a break, while kazi iendelee (President Kibakis campaign slogan) and Tinga (Mr Odingas nickname) have all come together to work and get Kenya out of the election mess, the VP said.
At the same function, Cardinal John Njue, head of the Catholic Church in Kenya, said that the deal between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga has created a conducive socio-economic atmosphere in the country. Cardinal Njue expressed confidence in Parliament, saying MPs would do what was necessary to help the country heal.
Bishop Sulumeti of Kakamega added that people in his home area no longer use the greeting mulembe (which means peace).
How can we say mulembe when more than 6,000 people are still displaced following the clashes? he asked.
Published by Korir, API africanpress@getmail.no source.nation.ke
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