Friday, 14 March 2008

News story (by Kenneth Ogosia) - Raila and Karua meet to clear way for deal

Ref: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=119000


Story by KENNETH OGOSIA
Publication Date: 3/14/2008

A private meeting between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Justice minister Martha Karua held Thursday could resolve the simmering opposition to the power-sharing deal in the Party of National Unity.

Mr Odinga met Ms Karua for lunch at a Nairobi hotel, a day after a controversial document allegedly clarifying the agreement brokered by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan was circulated in Parliament.

The document came barely days after Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura sparked an outcry with a statement giving his interpretation of the government structure in the peace agreement.

Although there was no indication that Mr Odinga and Ms Karua discussed the dissent in President Kibaki’s camp, the new charm offensive by the ODM leader could be crucial in ensuring success in entrenching the new government in the Constitution.

Pass crucial Bills

Parliament is expected to pass two crucial Bills next week creating the positions of Prime Minister and two deputies and also paving the way for power-sharing between PNU and ODM.

The lunch at the Grand Regency Hotel took place in a presidential suit and was described by aides on both sides as part of “confidence building” ahead of Tuesday’s start of debate on the coalition Bills.

It came only a day after Mr Odinga held a cocktail party in his Karen residence where more than 100 MPs from his party and PNU came together in what was seen as a “bonding mission” to foster a working relationship in Parliament.

The Bill to entrench the deal in the Constitution requires the support of at least two thirds of MPs for it to succeed.

Ms Karua, who leads PNU’s four-member team in the Annan-led mediation talks, is also the deputy leader of Government Business in Parliament and was considered by some as a hardliner.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Kenneth Marende banned the leaflets in Parliament which were echoing Mr Muthaura’s controversial interpretation of the power-sharing accord signed on February 28.

Mr Muthaura called a press conference on Monday where he attempted to interpret the accord.

He said the President would remain both the Head of State and Government while the Vice-President was his principal assistant and Leader of Government Business in Parliament.

According to Mr Muthaura, the Prime Minister would supervise and co-ordinate the work of ministers and would be a notch below the VP.

Sharing of jobs

Mr Muthaura, who is also the Secretary to the Cabinet, said that the accord did not include sharing of jobs in the civil service.

According to him, jobs in the public service could not be divided on party lines since public servants were expected to be neutral.

But ODM some leaders criticised Mr Muthaura’s statement, saying he had no authority to interpret the deal.

They also said that any statement interpreting the agreement must be signed by both President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.

Sources Thursday said the cocktail party at Mr Odinga’s home lasted three hours.

The media was blocked from attending but those at the meeting told the Nation that Mr Odinga extended an olive branch to all MPs.

He reportedly told the MPs to forget party differences and speed up the passing of the two Bills expected to entrench the position of Prime Minister and two deputies in the Constitution.

Among the MPs present were Juja’s George Thuo who is also the Government Chief Whip and who admitted in Parliament that the leaflets distributed to MPs originated from his office but had not been approved by him.

Diversionary tactics

He asked the MPs to ignore diversionary tactics being played along some corridors of power and put the plight of Kenyans above personal interests.

Over 350,000 people were displaced from their homes following violence over the disputed presidential elections. And on Wednesday, President Kibaki urged those who had fled to return to their homes because the violence had ended.

On Thursday, the Government Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua defended Mr Muthaura’s statement saying the Secretary to the Cabinet was not derailing the peace deal.

According to Dr Mutua, Mr Muthaura only clarified issues that had created a wrong impression about the deal.

Wrong impressions

“We only clarified issues that were not part of the agreement because wrong impressions were already being created. Even those condemning us are not giving correct interpretations,” he said.

And ODM secretary-general Anyang Nyong’o warned those with vested interested against working for the collapse of the grand coalition government.

He praised the bonding session Mr Odinga hosted as a gesture of political maturity, sincerity and vision for a united Kenya.

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