News story (by Standard Team) - MPs fast track Bills as leaflets cause stir

Ref: http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143983225&cid=4


Published on March 13, 2008, 12:00 am

By Standard Team

Members of Parliament unanimously agreed to fast track the power sharing deal even as a mysterious document that pointed to a conspiracy to undermine debate shockingly found its way into the august House.

This afternoon, Parliament begins debate on a crucial proposed law — marking a key step towards legalising the power-sharing arrangement signed by President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister-designate and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

On Wednesday, MPs unanimously approved a Procedural Motion to fast track the introduction and subsequent debate of two Bills to legislate the February 28 peace deal.

Speaking for the first time in the Tenth Parliament, Raila cautioned against the "warthog’s syndrome of forgetfulness" now that the country had been pulled from the brink.

"A grand coalition is formed at times of crisis. It brings together two equal partners who must treat each other with respect. None is number one and the other(s) two or three. All are number one," Raila told Parliament when he contributed to debate on the President’s speech.

The Lang’ata MP urged leaders of the former feuding parties to treat each other with civility, respect and desist from making statements that could inflame the country.

Said he: "Words can build, persuade and create love, but can equally cause pain, agony and trigger wars. Let us not suffer from the warthog’s syndrome and become forgetful of the sad events. Let us not restart the acrimony. This is not the time to exhibit arrogance."

Today, members begin discussions on the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill, which will set up the coalition Government and establish the post of prime minister and two deputies.

This will be followed by debate on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment Bill), which when passed into law will entrench the PM and deputy PMs’ positions in the Constitution.

Members unanimously agreed to reduce the maturity period for the Bills from 14 to six days from the date of publication last Thursday to hasten their enactment and speed up the formation of the coalition.

In doing so, they supported the Motion moved by Ugenya MP, Mr James Orengo (ODM), after the Speaker, Mr Kenneth Marende, gave him the greenlight to do so as an ordinary member.

This made it possible for the two Bills to sail through the First Reading yesterday.

Tabling the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill, Attorney-General, Mr Amos Wako, said the move was necessary to foster national unity.

Moving the Motion, Orengo said it was important that the House capture the mood of the moment in the spirit of reconciliation as set by President Kibaki and Raila in signing the Accord.

But an anonymous leaflet secretly planted in MPs’ pigeonholes and seemingly targeting the premiership appeared to suggest a conspiracy to undermine debate.

Titled The Truth About the Accord and addressed to all MPs, the leaflet appeared to replicate the controversial announcement made by Mr Francis Muthaura, the head of the Civil Service, early in the week.

The four-point, single-page document sought to caution against what it refers to as "the creation of two centres of power" and appeared to elevate the vice-presidency, while diminishing the premiership and made claims to the effect that ODM wanted to divide the Civil Service along tribal and political lines.

When he emerged to make what he described as a "clarification" on Government structure, Muthaura seemed to state that though the power-sharing deal would lead to the creation of the Office of the Prime Minister, the presidency and its imperial powers would remain intact.

The top civil servant made the point that even the Vice-President, being the President’s principal assistant, was senior to the PM in the protocol pecking order.

Yesterday, Marende ordered the removal of the document and wondered how it had found its way into the House without going through Parliament’s registry.

Intriguingly, Government Chief Whip, Mr George Thuo, owned up and said the documents had originated from his office.

"I tender my apologies for whatever has happened concerning the documents," the Juja MP told Parliament and added that he was investigating the person who may have brought the leaflets to his office without his knowledge.

Earlier, Parliament began debating the presidential address with an appeal to MPs to close ranks and pass crucial Bills to enact the peace accord and put the country on the recovery path.

Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Justice minister, Ms Martha Karua, Sabatia MP, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, and his Eldoret North counterpart, Mr William Ruto, led the way in preaching reconciliation and urged Parliament to rise to the "historic occasion".

Kalonzo, who is also the Leader of Government Business in the House, said the bloodletting following the disputed presidential election had a "direct bearing on the failure by leaders to give the country a new constitutional dispensation".

"We now have a constitutional moment. We should not let down the country," said Kalonzo.

Seconding the Motion, Mudavadi said there was "a new spirit which should be nurtured" and cautioned leaders to stop making provocative remarks that could undermine tranquility.

"If you are not competent, do not try to interpret issues you are not in a position to," Mudavadi cautioned.

On her part, Karua, who sat in the talks’ team on behalf of Party of National Unity, concurred that both teams ran into a deadlock and thanked Kibaki and Raila for unlocking the stalemate.

"They came in at a time when we in the mediation team were stuck up on certain issues," the minister said.

She added: "Now it’s Parliament’s turn to rise to the occasion and enact the constitutional changes to ensure the carnage witnessed never happens again."

Ruto said Parliament was at a historic moment and should live up to the challenge: "We should not trivialise this moment and make it about sharing out positions."

He said the envisaged Truth, Justice and Reconcilitaion Commission would allow Kenyans to make "difficult confessions" to bring closure on part of the country’s history that was dark and painful.

"We should use this moment to settle things that make Kenyans rise against each other 45 years after Independence," he said.

Mbooni MP, Mr Mutula Kilonzo (ODM-K), paid tribute to Kibaki and Raila for setting a precedent to reconcile the nation as Foreign Affairs minister, Mr Moses Wetangula, urged members to pass the Bills in a single session.

Elsewhere, the National Dialogue and Reconciliation talks resume today after a one-day break where structure and terms of reference of the Truth and Justice Commission will top the agenda.

The teams will also finalise the membership and schedules for the Independent Review Committee whose mandate will be to investigate all aspects of the presidential election and make recommendations to improve the electoral process.

The talks were adjourned on Tuesday afternoon to allow members, who are MPs, to help Parliament understand the agreements and their implications.

Mediation chair, Prof Oluyemi Adeniji, flew to Addis Ababa to report the progress of the talks and the implementation of the power sharing deal to the African Union.