News story (by Standard team) - Puzzle over Cabinet posts

Ref: http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143983570&cid=4

Published on March 20, 2008, 12:00 am

By Standard Team

The final pieces of the power-sharing jigsaw started falling into place with the gazettement of the requisite law to create the Office of Prime Minister and two deputies.

But in the background of intense lobbying and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by key players over the new Grand Coalition, two puzzles remained to be tackled: What ministries would go to PNU and which ones to newfound partner ODM; and who would be the new office holders.

Already, ODM leader Raila Odinga is the presumed Prime Minister but his two deputies remain unknown, though Mr Musalia Mudavadi is widely tipped to occupy one of them.

While ODM-Kenya leader Kalonzo Musyoka is the current Vice-President, a position he may continue to hold, the rest of the Cabinet positions — whose number is yet to be determined but is believed to be 34 — are up for grabs, following Parliament’s enactment of the power sharing deal on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated March 18 and which formally entrenches the PM power structure into the Constitution also made it clear that only Parliament can terminate the tenure of a sitting PM or that of his deputies.

On Wednesday, there was an expectant mood among Kenyans and the international community as they continued to keenly watch how President Kibaki and the Prime Minister-designate would reconstitute the new government.

It transpired that the new Cabinet could not be named on Wednesday, despite the lightning speed with which the Accord Bills sailed through Parliament on Tuesday after which they were promptly assented to and gazetted.

President Kibaki, who on Monday said he would name the new Cabinet in a few days, was in Uganda on official visit.

It is understood that he would not complete the task until after the Easter weekend — reportedly not later than Tuesday — leaving room for more lobbying, scheming and plotting by both sides of the political divide.

Retired South African judge, Justice Johann Cristiaan Kriegler, talks to journalists upon his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, on Wednesday. He will chair the committee that will investigate last year’s elections. Picture: Robert Gicheru
Raila, who held a morning meeting with his key lieutenants at Pentagon House, is understood to have finalised the list of 17 names from the party that the President is expected to incorporate into the Cabinet.

Sources said the 17 slots were distributed based on regional representation and a delicate power balancing act. The party has MPs in all provinces except Central Province.

The proposed names were made available to The Standard but it was understood the final approval would be subject to a discussion between the two principals — President Kibaki and Raila.

PNU — which already has 17 ministers in a half-Cabinet that consists of allies ODM-K and Kanu — continued to soak in pressure from its MPs seeking to be included in Government, even as Assistant ministers.

Another vicious war was being played out between two opposing camps over the second Deputy Prime Minister position reserved for PNU. Kanu has been pushing for its chairman, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, while Narc-Kenya has been lobbying for Justice minister, Ms Martha Karua.

Sources in Government indicated that Kibaki could reconstitute the Cabinet afresh rather than just adding the ODM’s list. This would mean a major reshuffle that would finely mix the ODM and PNU MPs in slots to be shared on a 50-50 basis. The same case would apply to assistant minister positions.



Lean government

This would also allow Kibaki to bring in more Cabinet ministers from ODM-K and Kanu, and possibly drop at least two ministers, according to a top PNU source who sought anonymity.

Sources said ODM, the party with majority members in Parliament, also appeared to favour such a scenario.

And following the drawing of the ODM list of 17, it is increasingly becoming clear that the Cabinet may have no fewer than 34 ministers.

On Wednesday, the civil society expressed displeasure at the expected "bloated government structure".

The civil society, which is pushing for a lean Government, asked President Kibaki not to bow to pressure to reward individuals seeking Cabinet portfolio.

On Wednesday, Chief Mediator Oluyemi Adeniji said the eyes of the international community were riveted on the final steps of the power-sharing process.

Adeniji, who spoke at the Serena Hotel, said: "Kenyans should celebrate the passing of the crucial Bills. The process is almost complete but the announcement of the coalition government will be the clincher."

ODM sources said the party line-up had Rift Valley Province staking a claim to five Cabinet slots, given its vast nature and the fact that it does not occupy any of the top two positions of the Prime Minister or their deputy. The province also delivered the largest single vote block for the party.

Nyanza is expected to have three slots, same as Western Province while the Coast and Eastern regions would get two slots apiece.

"Whereas it is not possible to please everybody, this is the only possible way to share out the positions. But we know there will be a lot of discontent that will have to be dealt with," said the source.

ODM also have the position of Speaker of the National Assembly — held by Mr Kenneth Marende — and that of his deputy, occupied by Lagdera MP Farah Maalim.

On Wednesday, sources said a PNU list — in which slots are shared out between PNU, ODM-Kenya and Kanu — had also been finalised.

The sources said both President Kibaki and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka had already agreed on how they would share out their seats.

More lobbying in PNU was reported from the larger Meru districts whose MPs have written to President Kibaki asking for two more Cabinet slots.

The area already has a Cabinet post held by Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi.

Speaking to The Standard on Tuesday after a Parliamentary Group meeting of the government coalition, Kiraitu said the Meru bloc provided a large vote for the President.

"We are asking that our support be recognised by giving us three seats,’’ Kiraitu said.

Meanwhile, the search for a physical office for the Prime Minister was top on the Government agenda ahead of the naming of the new Cabinet.

ODM was said to have tabled a proposal on the location of the PM’s office, which would be considered alongside four other locations that include Harambee House, the Treasury Building and the Foreign Affairs Building.

Contacted by The Standard on Wednesday, ODM Secretary-General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said he was not part of a team of eight said to be spearheading the search for the PM’s office location.

However, sources said that a team of ODM members, led by Chairman Henry Kosgey, and the PNU side led by, the Head of Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, were making progress.

— Stories by Martin Mutua, Ayub Savula and Joseph Murimi