Truth be told, it’s Kibaki who has power to share Updated on: Monday, March 31, 2008 Story by: PHARAOH OCHICHI ....................................................................................................................................................................................
PRESIDENT Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga must make sure that former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan does not return to Kenya to mediate. And it is good that Mr Annan has indicated he does not wish to travel to Kenya in the near future in that capacity.
He can come as a tourist or as a friend of Kenya, but not to help the two leaders distribute ministries. If he comes to mediate again, it would show the two leaders in bad light, and this might indicate that they are not able to honour the power-sharing deal.
The government has been insisting that Kenya is a sovereign state and that it should be respected and allowed to sort out its own problems without external interference. So Mr Annan should let President Kibaki and Mr Odinga work out the answers.
One might argue that, in the first place, we allowed him to mediate the process and therefore he should return and complete it. But the government allowed him to mediate following intense pressure from within and without Right now; the pressure for his involvement comes from within the government itself.
The two key leaders have overcome larger obstacles than this one of sharing ministries. Signing the deal to end the post-election crisis was the highest hurdle, followed by the amendment of the constitution to create the positions of prime minister and two deputies, and then the passing of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008.
And, indeed, even most members of both parties believe forming government is a small matter that can be solved easily and pretty fast. And, as if to emphasise this point, Charity Ngilu said the other day, ‘The two have come from far, and they have started to work together and understand each other.
We have already gone past the difficult times.” And certainly President Kibaki and Mr Odinga have remained optimistic that an agreement would be found For example, when presiding over the graduation ceremony of Administration Police officers at Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, President Kibaki said: “I appeal to Kenyans to be patient as we embark on the painstaking journey of entrenching peace and reconciliation and resettlement of the displaced persons.”
On the other hand, the ODM leader, at a different function, exuded confidence that he would “reach a fruitful conclusion.’’ Since the power-sharing deal has already been sealed and the two crucial bills have been passed by Parliament, the failure of the two principals to agree on ministerial posts would have a worse effect on President Kibaki than on Mr Odinga.
As things stand, members of the Cabinet cannot be named without the input of Mr Odinga. Subsequently, the ODM leader can decide to take a walk instead of haggling with President Kibaki at Harambee House over ministerial jobs.
And the President will have no choice but to look for him because, as long as there is a deadlock, President Kibaki, unlike Mr Odinga, has everything to lose. This is probably the reason the government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, has been quick to say that ODM has not been honouring meetings.
And even though we may be talking about two people who are unable to share posts, in reality, Mr Odinga does not have them.
The posts to be shared are with President Kibaki, which further puts the President’s international reputation at stake. If the stalemate persists, he would be viewed as the one reluctant to let go. Also, it is still a PNU government because ODM has not been incorporated.
And even when ODM joins the government, there are those who might still regard it a PNU government, despite the sharing of power. For them, it is the position of the presidency that defines the government; hence, if it fails to deliver, it would be Mr Kibaki’s failure.
The quick formation of the government will begin the process of sorting out, for instance, a new constitutional dispensation, the healing of the country, and the resettlement of the internally displaced. So, the sooner the two parties agree about their parties’ positions in government, the better for Kenya.
The author is a lecturer at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication
He can come as a tourist or as a friend of Kenya, but not to help the two leaders distribute ministries. If he comes to mediate again, it would show the two leaders in bad light, and this might indicate that they are not able to honour the power-sharing deal.
The government has been insisting that Kenya is a sovereign state and that it should be respected and allowed to sort out its own problems without external interference. So Mr Annan should let President Kibaki and Mr Odinga work out the answers.
One might argue that, in the first place, we allowed him to mediate the process and therefore he should return and complete it. But the government allowed him to mediate following intense pressure from within and without Right now; the pressure for his involvement comes from within the government itself.
The two key leaders have overcome larger obstacles than this one of sharing ministries. Signing the deal to end the post-election crisis was the highest hurdle, followed by the amendment of the constitution to create the positions of prime minister and two deputies, and then the passing of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008.
And, indeed, even most members of both parties believe forming government is a small matter that can be solved easily and pretty fast. And, as if to emphasise this point, Charity Ngilu said the other day, ‘The two have come from far, and they have started to work together and understand each other.
We have already gone past the difficult times.” And certainly President Kibaki and Mr Odinga have remained optimistic that an agreement would be found For example, when presiding over the graduation ceremony of Administration Police officers at Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, President Kibaki said: “I appeal to Kenyans to be patient as we embark on the painstaking journey of entrenching peace and reconciliation and resettlement of the displaced persons.”
On the other hand, the ODM leader, at a different function, exuded confidence that he would “reach a fruitful conclusion.’’ Since the power-sharing deal has already been sealed and the two crucial bills have been passed by Parliament, the failure of the two principals to agree on ministerial posts would have a worse effect on President Kibaki than on Mr Odinga.
As things stand, members of the Cabinet cannot be named without the input of Mr Odinga. Subsequently, the ODM leader can decide to take a walk instead of haggling with President Kibaki at Harambee House over ministerial jobs.
And the President will have no choice but to look for him because, as long as there is a deadlock, President Kibaki, unlike Mr Odinga, has everything to lose. This is probably the reason the government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, has been quick to say that ODM has not been honouring meetings.
And even though we may be talking about two people who are unable to share posts, in reality, Mr Odinga does not have them.
The posts to be shared are with President Kibaki, which further puts the President’s international reputation at stake. If the stalemate persists, he would be viewed as the one reluctant to let go. Also, it is still a PNU government because ODM has not been incorporated.
And even when ODM joins the government, there are those who might still regard it a PNU government, despite the sharing of power. For them, it is the position of the presidency that defines the government; hence, if it fails to deliver, it would be Mr Kibaki’s failure.
The quick formation of the government will begin the process of sorting out, for instance, a new constitutional dispensation, the healing of the country, and the resettlement of the internally displaced. So, the sooner the two parties agree about their parties’ positions in government, the better for Kenya.
The author is a lecturer at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication
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