United States tells Kibaki to honour agreement, Supports Raila/ODM

United States tells Kibaki to honour agreementUpdated on: Thursday, April 03, 2008 Story by: Emmanuel Onyango ....................................................................................................................................................................................
THE US government last evening joined the fray over the Cabinet deadlock, insisting that its diplomatic relations with Kenya rest on the full implementation of the National Accord.
In a media briefing at his Muthaiga residence, Ranneberger also said that a 34-member coalition cabinet being favoured by ODM leader Raila Odinga was “ideal enough” compared to President Kibaki’s proposal of 44 ministries.
The envoy said Kibaki’s proposal to have 44 ministries was excessive and likely to divert colossal resources to public administration rather than national recovery and public service.
He said since the accord was signed while the government had 34 ministries, creation of additional ministries would be viewed with suspicion. Ranneberger also cautioned the President and his allies against the temptation of vetting ODM’s nominees to the Cabinet, a development, he said could generate sentiments that specific regions were being excluded from the coalition government owing to their involvement in the post-election violence.
The envoy’s remarks came moments after ODM legislators, led by Pentagon member Najib Balala, had declared the party’s intent to decline Cabinet appointments if President Kibaki refuses to abide by the principle of portfolio balance.
ODM had also protested against PNU’s proposals for vetting of Cabinet nominees, a move Balala described as a tactic to block Eldoret North MP, William Ruto from inclusion in the new cabinet.
“This is not the time to focus on individual personalities and what they did and did not do. Neither is it time to call for demonstrations,” Ranneberger said.
The remarks, however, failed to reconcile with his embassy’s move to issue travel advisories to five Members of Parliament and five prominent business personalities in the heady days of post-election violence.
“None of the people being considered for vetting has ever received US travel advisories. Any person involved in a crime should not serve the public, but to start making grand statements about individuals is not helpful,” the envoy said.
The US ambassador said that the principal of portfolio balance meant the equal sharing of important ministries between PNU and ODM. “The legislation is clear that there will be equitable portfolio balance and other government duties. What this means is that the most vital portfolios need to be shared equally in order to make the coalition government successful,” he said.
And despite expressing optimism, Ranneberger insisted that the United States’ pledge of US $ 25 million (Sh1.5 billion) for the national emergency recovery strategy will be pegged on the full implementation of the National Accord.
Said he: “Our future relations with Kenya will be determined by the Accord and the working of the coalition government.”

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