...
written by MoAmin , January 08, 2008

A few things
a) The Constitution does allow for the position of Chief Minister, so maybe Kibaki can offer that to Raila. Let him reject it, the offer will have been made.
b) The ODM really weakened their case when it became clear as Jendayi Frazer now confesses that both sides rigged in their zones. Credibility in the bin, and now there will be no funding for a Ukrainian style Orange manenos.
c) The violence of Eldoret has lost the ODM whatever sympathy it had left. Ruto may soon find himself facing less than friendly scrutiny, Raila would be best advised to distance himself from Ruto.

The international community has very little to beat Kenya with apart from sanctions, and given that neither side comes with clean hands, the case for punishing Kibaki and Kenya in this way is very diminished. Commonwealth membership? The British do not seem to want to take sides (and remember they are accommodating the Nigerian howler). The FCO is determined not to take sides.
Now, if I was President Kibaki, I would call elections in six months, doubtless he would win over the Kisii who have been kicked out of the Rift Valley (they did not even vote Kibaki), the Kamba who have suffered the brutality of the ODM (they did not even vote Kibaki) and all those Kenyans who have witnesses first hand the effects of Raila's leadership. Can he with Haji consolidate his slim lead in North Eastern province? Kibaki has 5/10 MPs there.

Finally, the populations of the ODM regions are unlikely to be too excited about voting, especially with the self-imposed consequences of ukosefu wa maduka. How many business people will back Raila with money now? Will Kisiis, GEMA folk and the North Eastern people perhaps now be permanently fashioned into a pro-business party while the rest of the country persists in demanding sharing, sharing, sharing?

P.S. I count two women, two Muslims, and maybe 13 positions left over for filling?

Pre-emptive?
written by Madogo , January 08, 2008

This announcement sounds wrong on so many levels. The timing too is not honest! I don

Kalonzo
written by benadede , January 08, 2008

Good move for Kalonzo for now. Let us see if this will translate into votes to propel him to the presidency in the next 5 years.

Aketch
written by Amir Ibrahim , January 08, 2008

Has it occurred to you and your fellow destroyers that Kibaki has the support of 4 provinces, that he now has the support of a great plurality of Kenyans especially after your violent cousins have driven the Akamba, the Abagusii and the vast majority of the middle class into Kibaki's hands.

Amin, yes Kibaki can be a president for all Kenyans now. If we can continue building Kenya, and if Kibaki can put a special focus on the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western province then we can re-mould a single Kenya and isolate the mad, evil spirit in ODM's leaders.

...
written by kajumbe , January 08, 2008

aii by now Raila should have learnt, kibaki is still playing him.. I mean 4 times.. and he is still falling for it.. now they meet on friday... kibaki katias him.. raila falls for it and is quiet.. this is what i think.. go to parliament and drive Kibaki crazy for five years... I can see Kalonzo made his move too!!! good positioning i must say.. in terms of coming out as mediator....

Amir or whatever
written by Murage , January 08, 2008

Kibaki was not elected. So please let's respect the basic principle of democracy. I don't care if he survives this crisis by bribing and arm-twisting opponents but as long as that guy stays president, Kenya will be walking a very dangerous path.

Kibaki has to be removed, if peaceful means fails, I think a coup should be considered. The man is taking us back to the dark ages of tyranny and Moism. An example is the shooting of children in Kisumu in the pretext of containing dissent. We don't want that and we're not gonna stand for it.

So take it from me, all options are open here. Kibaki has to submit to the requirements of democracy otherwise we're not gonna pretend we're living in one.

Has it occurred to you and your fellow destroyers that Kibaki has the support of 4 provinces, that he now has the support of a great plurality of Kenyans especially after your violent cousins have driven the Akamba, the Abagusii and the vast majority of the middle class into Kibaki's hands.

Amin, yes Kibaki can be a president for all Kenyans now. If we can continue building Kenya, and if Kibaki can put a special focus on the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western province then we can re-mould a single Kenya and isolate the mad, evil spirit in ODM's leaders.

There is no evil spirit in ODM, the evil spirit is in your mind.

Kibaki clings on, Raila\'s opt
written by Murage , January 08, 2008

I see Kibaki is determined to cling on power. Finally Kalonzo makes his move. These guys are so predictable. Meanwhile ODM still has its ace-- street protests.

I think Kibaki is just positioning himself for a re-run with Raila. With Kalonzo on his side, he now has a huge advantage, but still the anger on the ground toward Kibaki will not let up.

So now Raila goes to the negotiation table with Kibaki knowing all too well that Kibaki does not mean anything he says--still. He just wants to play games. Raila should also know by now that nothing will come from any negotiation with Kibaki and the only way Kibaki will relinquish power is by the force of the masses.

So Raila has several options, he can form a parallel government complete with a chief of General Staff, cabinet, permanent secretaries and everything and start serving Kenyans, or force Kibaki to another election, which now, with Kalonzo by his side, Kibaki should agree to with glee. He could also go to parliament and give Kibaki hell for the next five years or negotiate for a tenured executive prime minister position and deliver ODM promises to his strongholds with sights on 2012. He can also consider taking matters in his hands and overthrow the Kibaki joke of a government.

Raila seems stuck with all the bad choices, but he has one asset, the nation is very very angry, and it's angry not with Raila, but with Kibaki and now Kalonzo.

Raila has shown a lot of goodwill so people recognize him as the people's president who'll fight for their rights. The time to tap on that resource is coming by the end of this week. If Kibaki does not relent and call a new election, the street protests should start.

Kenya must reject tyranny and dictatorship.

Find here my suggestions for the way forward.

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written by Timothy Wainaina , January 08, 2008

Good move. We needed peace and stability in the country. We urgently need to get a move on and start working hard to salvage the national reputation. I am glad that the number of Kikuyu Ministers has gone down, especially the ones in those 'powerful positions' people had previously complained about like Internal Security and Defence.

Perhaps people can now get on with it?

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written by gichangi , January 08, 2008

As others have said elsewhere, this move could not have come but with the blessing of the US and the UK. Kibaki is no one's servant and he has indeed pushed these powers away in the past, but the speed with which he did it, and the fact that Ms Frazer is still in the country and that Barrack Obama called to insist that Raila meets Kibaki makes me think that everyone but the ODM's core supporters know that the ODM does not come to justice with clean hands.

So goodbye Raila. And till later, Kibaki now has the solid backing of Kenyans. I am told that Kalonzo has accepted his position and that waKamba wamefurahi.

Can we get on with it now? I hope kina Murage are in Kenya now, preparing their strategies to give 'Kenyans' the president they deserve.

P.S. Raila has been let down by his family. His cousin Obama, his other cousin Bush and the other one, Cheney. Amazing how much like Bush Raila is eh?

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written by a guest , January 08, 2008

Wainaina, Kibaki's 'Big-Manism' politics will not ensure peace and stability in Kenya. On the contrary, it will exarcebate matters even more.

Tell me if I am wrong a week from today.

Kalonzo (...)
written by Wuod Aketch , January 08, 2008

The man from Mwingi's day has come. He is now VP. Kenyans were right about this man. The man has been lured by privilege to join the cabinet.

(Silly insult deleted. Ed.)

The opposition should not succumb to the music of the puppet master Kibaki - Kenya is bigger than a small privilege.

Posts still to be filled...
written by aeichener , January 08, 2008

Here is the list of not-yet-filled cabinet posts:

The only other key portfolios that he left unfilled include the ministries of
- Health,
- Tourism,
- Agriculture,
- Trade and Industry,
- Lands and
- Labour.

Other ministries left vacant were
- Livestock and Fisheries,
- Gender, Sports and Culture,
- Regional Development and Authorities, - Housing,
- Environment and Natural Resources,
- Co-operative Development and Marketing and
- Planning and National Development.

Allow me add via quotation (from the Standard) a word of criticism:
"Despite Kibaki's promise during his campaigns that he would name a youthful, clean-hands Cabinet, he still retained his trusted old lieutenants,"

Alexander

Kazi indelee
written by magothe , January 08, 2008

Gichangi, Murage as far as I can gather from his stint on Mashada is US-based. I doubt he even voted.
All these peeps talking about Kibz waiting, have you all been staying at home since 27th of Dec? You've gotten back to work-some asap and I believe GoK can't go to bunge unless a cabinent is appointed. 2ndly, we need to urgently get back to the task of rebuilding and securing areas like Eldoret where not happy with killing. looting, maiming and displacing, the ODM fans are now going through the same houses and helping themselves to "aduis" property.
Inclusion of Ali Makwere is big big disappointed though. His a complete idiot.

Kazi Indelee
written by magothe , January 08, 2008

Gichangi, Murage as far as I can gather from his stint on Mashada, is US-based, has personal vendetta with Kibz family and probably didn't even vote.
As for Kibz waiting, when do you guys expect Kenya to start growing itself again? When RO is happy? Kwani yuo've been at home since 30th of Dec? Au contre, I suspect most back to asac. GoK has to appoint a cabinent before going to bunge, and needs to move with speed to start rebuilding international confidence (so Safcom and $20mn bond can go ahead) and to secure areas like Eldoret where ODM fans are now helping themselves to "adui's" property having killed, maimed and dispersed them.

re: Kibaki clings on, Raila\'s
written by aeichener , January 08, 2008

I see Kibaki is determined to cling on power.

At least temporarily. Anything else would be irresponsible in the light of the given situation.

Admittedly, his move is ambivalent: it consolidates his power, while at the same time offering an avenue for a possible stepping back (in that case, a vice president must exist to continue until the new elections).

Finally Kalonzo makes his move. These guys are so predictable.

ODM had their big chance. They gambled and lost. If Raila had taken back his bloated ego and his recklessly destructive everything-or-nothing-greed, and had temporarily accepted to take part in a government of national unity - until re-elections -, he would not be at the sidelines now.

So, Kibaki had to use his second option, as I outlined before: a government of national majority.

I think Kibaki is just positioning himself for a re-run with Raila. With Kalonzo on his side, he now has a huge advantage,

Certainly. In addition, Kibaki would now probably get the former Rift Valley majority, votes from all the displaced persons, and many Kisii votes too. The ODM strategy of violence worked out in favour of PNU now.

So Raila has several options,

Hardly any are left. The ODM "luminaries" will soon leave him; they have their own greed, and Raila cannot satisfy it.

Raila seems stuck with all the bad choices

Yep. He has only fortified the disparate Kibaki camp, he has driven many of his former voters to his adversary through his reckless post-election behaviour... this man is his own undoing.

Raila has shown a lot of goodwill so people recognize him as the people's president who'll fight for their rights.

People know very well that Raila is no less a crook than the others.

Kenya must reject tyranny and dictatorship.

Indeed, and a good reason to set an anvil against this "hammer".

Alexander

Nyundo
written by kalindi , January 09, 2008

Aeichner has a very vivid argument.

The 'hammer' came down crushing aimlessly at every kikuyu, kamba and gusii (plus others) after elections. That rentered it blunt and can not knock out any more heads. He has tainted himself and the word from PNU to these tribes is 'I told you ODM means One Dangerous Man'. To be honest, I reckon even some MP-elects of ODM may defect (if there is that legal allowance) because they do not want to be associated with One Dangerous Man (ODM). Kibaki is preapring himself for a re-run and if so he will win with a landslide. Remember all those women and girls raped, shops looted, lives lost, churches burnt. Is that the 'Change' ODM promised?. Even in his own luoland, there are those with a human heart and who will deny him any vote because of post-election slaughter of innocents. And the blood of those killed (especially women and children in church) will haunt the hammer even in their graves. Remember Kenyans are religious (be it christians or muslims) and all these support peace and not slaughter of humanity. The hammer has dug his own grave and may be the end of his political career.

Wako should go
written by benadede , January 09, 2008

I will not spend time on Kibaki or Raila and who has made a good or bad move. As I have previously stated, it is my belief Kibaki is determined to consolidate his position and Raila will eventually take up the position of opposition leader.
More important for me at this point is for Kenyans to start pushing Kibaki and the government of the day to start urgent reforms.
I suggest that the office of the attorney general needs a new occupant who is decisive and independent and can make good use of security of tenure. One Amos Wako who has been in that office since around the return of multiparty democracy has been a failure all through and part of our problems today. The fauilure of his office has led to the culture of impunity.
1. We need someone who can effectively prosecute corruption cases, "big fish" in particular.
2. We need someone who can prosecute individuals behind land clashes across the political divide since 1992 to date.
3. We need someone who can prosecute members of parliament and politicians to stop parliament from being a refuge for criminals. Since 1992, not a single MP has been successfuly prosecuted despite them being the biggest thieves, war mongers,assault offenders e.t.c

I have some more targets for later. You can add yours. Genuine Kenyans who want a better life for all Kenyans should be loud in our calls for real reforms whether we supported Kibaki, Raila, Kalonzo or Nazlin.

aketch
written by MoAmin , January 09, 2008

Imagine how much you would have won with Kalonzo as your candidate? A man of peace, one who has no problem delegating. Instead you decided to back a man of your tribe, a tyrant with a big whip.

As Mugabe would say, go hang!!
Why are ODM people so angry at Kalonzo? I have never understood the venom? And why are all, say most ODM people on the internet Luos?

...
written by newafroguy , January 09, 2008

Yeap, ODM arranged the so called ethnic cleansing. Infact, ODM and specifically Raila, organised 80's Luhya - Nandi clashes that saw the rise of the infamous "msumbiji" gang, and also the '92, '97, 02 clashes Rift Valley clashes, the likoni clashes, wagalla massacre, Elgon clashes, and even as recent as Kuresoi.

We can also extrapolate further and conclude that the shifta uprising of the 70's was that handy work of Raila.

This man Raila is so unprincipled and power hungry that he would jump at any oppotunity to be a minister, prime minister, or vice president. All he wants is raw power and not reforms at all. That's why he wouldn't dream of resigning a powerful post as a matter of principle.

Perhaps ODM even sends hooligans to Europe during soccer matches, after all, hooliganism isn't a trait of criminal characters acting in masses but specifically an ODM DNA trait.

The list goes on. So kazi ziendelee.

...
written by Kamale , January 09, 2008

There is this notion that Kibaki should not play politics and only his adversaries should.

For starters, there is NO WAY Kibaki will agree to a re-run of the elections unless forced to by the courts which I think he would respect. From a legal point of view, Kibaki is already on his second term as president and unless the term is nullified by a court of law, he would be barred by the constitution to RE-RUN as he would have served two terms (even if the second term lasted a week!). He is aware of this condition and ODM must think him a fool to be baited that way. Parliament would have to amend the constitution to allow him to call another election that he runs in!

So let us forget the notion of re-running the election afresh.

Wake up Murage
written by a guest , January 09, 2008

Wake up man, where have been sleeping or what have you been drinking. Your reasoning is so archaic i can't believe you live in this same planet we are today. Kenya has the right government and want peace love and unity. We can do without people like you who preach hatred and backwardness. I am sure even Hon Raila would not want to be associated with you or your views.

Kenyans have moved on and we are looking forward to rebuilding our nation and healing our land. If you cant move on and join the hard working nation, then get lost with you anger, greed and stagnancy. Ciaaaaooooooo.

...
written by Eva , January 09, 2008

This is disturbing on so many levels. Especially because we are still struggling with what this violence has done to Kenya. Is it right for someone to appoint a cabinet when his country has been at war for close to a month (statistics aside) , but it seems to be long enough. I think this is an embarrassment to Kenya as a whole ... and potrayal of how cold and power-minded our leaders are.

As for Kalonzo ... I have no amount of words that can truly express how this makes me feel. The Kenyan politics have been made such a joke and it is about time the young people started some sort of revolution to bring this long era of poor and selfish leadership in Kenya. Stand up and do something for your country. I believe that the way forward now is to take charge and bring change. Change should come as a whole unit.

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written by jomo , January 18, 2008

Moderated