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Latest Updates; Cabinet negotiations

Written by Updates

Monday, 07 April 2008

Reports indicate that the ongoing Cabinet negotiations have stalled amid accusations of bad faith and reneging on previously accepted positions.

The BBC is reporting that Hon. Raila Odinga declined an offer to meet President Kibaki earlier today, on the ground that Kibaki was attempting to retain all executive power. Kibaki, in a statement read after the negotiations, said he was ready and willing to continue negotiations, but expressed surprise at what he said was ODM's introduction of preconditions not envisaged in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act.

President Kibaki's statement is available here ; Raila's may be viewed here. More when we hear it.

Update (11.30 AM): Opposition supporters burn tires in protest.

Update (11.48 AM): Traders are moving their goods out of Toi market, apparently in anticipation of increased violence.

(Update 13.43 PM): The BBC reports that Prof. Peter Anyan' Nyong'o has announced the ODM's resolution to suspend their participation in the Cabinet negotiations, and that violence has broken out in Kibera. Reuters reports about 100 protesters in Kibera; police have fired teargas at them.

(Update 19:14): Reuters reports that protests have spread to Kisumu.

(Update 22:50): BBC reports that a deal has been reached for the cabinet. More when we have it.

Updates
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written by Kimemia , April 08, 2008

From the statements that both parties read out to the media, they are are both trying to play the victim.

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negotiations
written by an , April 08, 2008

I am yet to be told how many marriages operate on 50-50 basis, dear kenyans. Can we stop cheating ourselves. As long as proper defination of 'portfolio balance' was not given and we cannot interfere with the agreement as signed by the Principles,the demands being made to make the cabinet will remain strange to all of us. It is either clearly written in the constitution or not. I do not understand the word 'the spirit of the law'.Can wives tell their husbands that 'the spirit of the law is that we are equal partners and we both have the final word?' The final word is always from one of them 'You married ones what do you think.

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Put Kenya first!
written by donde , April 08, 2008

Kenyans are tired of this circus. Kenyans want to go on with their normal lives. The dilidalling of the leaders of one divide only serves to heighten tension which is at the detriment of the economy. Idp's also want to move back to their homes but this won't be possible unless the principles agree in principal.
And civil servants who are past retirement age should retire in peace and let the youth get jobs !
Kenyans are really watching keenly and am sure they know who among the two principals is lying with a straight face.

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...
written by pushka , April 08, 2008

My position is that they failed to agree.

Key word being failed! BOTH the PNU side and the ODM side failed to agree.

If I had a say in it, I'd say 'You are both FIRED!'

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Unfortunate
written by Kim G , April 08, 2008

Its unfortunate that we are being led into chaos as we watch and theres little that we as ordinary citizens can do about it. Kibaki is proving to be a leader that cannot make decisions. It is because of the National Accord that violence ceased in the country. If the accord breaks, thanks to him, then we are in for bad times. Raila Odinga on the other hand, is also placing unrealistic demands at this time. Why call for a 34 member cabinet after they had agreed to have 40? Also, this isnt the time to demand a say in appointments to the civil service and parastatals. Why couldnt they sort out these issues before?

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Who\'s Fooling Who?
written by Aggey , April 08, 2008

This is clearly a fight for power and not a fight to better the lives of the ordinary Kenyan.

Eventually, the dust will clear and reality as well as objectivity will begin to set in. Then and only then will Kenyans begin to look for leaders who can empower, inspire and implement the changes necessary to improve their livelihoods.

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You get what you pay for
written by observer , April 08, 2008

Nothing in this world is free; there is an opportunity cost to everything. We in Kenyan have chosen tribalism as our way forward. We must now meet the demands of the Gods of tribalism. The offering will be a sacrifice of 44 ministries. We may loose out on all the things Sunny mentions but least the Gods of tribalism are not angry with us, their appeasement is all that maters, if the Gods are happy we are happy.

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re: You get what you pay for
written by Wuod Aketch , April 08, 2008

Nothing in this world is free; there is an opportunity cost to everything. We in Kenyan have chosen tribalism as our way forward. We must now meet the demands of the Gods of tribalism. The offering will be a sacrifice of 44 ministries. We may loose out on all the things Sunny mentions but least the Gods of tribalism are not angry with us, their appeasement is all that maters, if the Gods are happy we are happy.

Do you think the people who voted ODM were tribal? I think that if elections were to be held today, there would be more votes cast on tribal lines on the ODM side. Kibaki would not get any votes, even his tribe from central province.
The problem today is with PNU. It is not easy to progress with a bunch that takes about turn after each agreement has been reached. Violence is coming back, this time it will be very hard to stop as many will be ready to face off with the nonsense from Kibaki, Mutua and Muthaura.

Why PNU is worried : http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143984459

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re: re: You get what you pay f
written by Daniel.Waweru , April 09, 2008

Do you think the people who voted ODM were tribal?

Yes. Now, go away.

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Do we have a future?
written by Isindu Mwangaza , April 09, 2008

Do you think the people who voted ODM were tribal?

Yes. Now, go away.

Prior to the election, Kibaki had resigned to the fact that he was on his way out. In came Vijana Wa Kibaki, vested interest groups and personalities to champion the cause of "our man". That project led to the fiasco and consequently to the current stalemate.

No government lasts forever. Ideologies typically withstand the test of time. PNU's grandstanding will devour the little we have left in patience, economy, good will and reputation, assuming theres any left.

Kibaki's bravado and ill advised maneuvering will not be with us ten years from now nor will his Vijana crew nor his vested affiliates. Kenya will still be here and he'd better hope every decision he takes guarantees us that much. Currently, he is bordering on insanity and that, Kenya cannot withstand.

PNU must act for tomorrow and the Kenya we want for our children. The blame lies squarely in their lap.

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...
written by Eric , April 09, 2008

1. The reference to marriage is the case of the 50-50 deal signed by Kibs and RAO is no argument, marriage is a union of the willing, the deal was neither a union nor were the parties involved willing.

2. PNU and ODM supporters are all tribal, they are guided by tribalism in their vote, Kales voted for RAO because their tribal chief told them to so no angels here.

3. The Kenya political elite don't give a rat about the common guy, they don't blink when they lie and to them, the whole thing is a game of numbers.

5. Kibs men don't care anymore, the IPOs went ahead and money was made, not they can call for fresh elections and KM will beat RAO/ODM hands down!

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correction on point 6
written by Eric , April 09, 2008

NOW they can confidently call for fresh elections.

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latest updates
written by jj , April 09, 2008

WANJIKU all what the guys who told you that they are fighting for your interest, using the word "THE PEOPLE", are interested in is POWER not you.Tell them to first finish with the new constitution where they will clear all ambiguities in the power sharing agreement and then they can talk of balanced portfolio.

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Voting patterns
written by aeichener , April 09, 2008

Do you think the people who voted ODM were tribal?

Yes.

Fascinating. I shall read it ASAP.

Thanks a big lot for this welcome link to a study.

Alexander

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...
written by aeichener , April 09, 2008

There is one thought already on the very first page of the report quoted by Daniel Waweru, which I found very lucid in its precise distinction. It also seesm to fit Kenya well:

With reference to South Africa, Ferree finds only weak support for expressive voting based on identity alone, but also no support for policy-based interest voting (2004; see also Mattes and Piombo 2001; Erdmann 2007). Instead, she posits the insightful argument that voters use information on the assumed ethnic identities of parties, casting ballots for those they calculate will best defend their group interests in a context where others are assumed to vote along identity lines.

Alexander

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with kenyans at heart
written by jacob , April 09, 2008

ok,how about fresh elections with a new comission overseeing the elections,international observers and so on.this 50/50 thing wont work beacuse both sides will always feel cheated.we go back to the polls,winner leads the country and the loser goes home.we are tired of all this back and fourth...

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IDP on mobile voting ballots
written by pndiangui , April 09, 2008

As long as IDP's on both sides of the political divide can vote , then we can as well go for fresh polls.

Take away Mwai Kibaki from the ballot though, he has already served 3 months of his final term in office.

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New elections? Yes, but...
written by aeichener , April 09, 2008

Peter, the lure of fresh polls (new elections) is certainly tempting. It would put sovereignty back where it belongs: to the People.
And would not let national interest become the goat carcass in a the tug-o-war between an Orange Destruction Movement and a Primeval Nincompoop Union.

But. BUT.

1. Such elections could not be organized and conducted by any Kenyan institution, but only by an international body.

2. Stronger surveillance would be necessary, not just a few observers here and there.

3. Kenya is a county where it is faster and far more efficient to send a relative in matatu from deepest ushago to Nairobi and back, if one wants to get a specific information within reasonable time, than to simply send an email and subsequently wait for answer that will never come. Meaning: the whole logistic stucture for such elections will have to be foreign funded.

4. How could IDPs be at all integrated into the constituency-based voting structure? Sounds like an unsolvable nightmare to me.

5. We would have to shoot or hang quite a number of politicians (from both camps) first, if we wanted clean elections. :-)

Alexander

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re: IDP on mobile voting ballo
written by jacob , April 09, 2008

As long as IDP's on both sides of the political divide can vote , then we can as well go for fresh polls.

Take away Mwai Kibaki from the ballot though, he has already served 3 months of his final term in office.

yes,take away kibaki,..that my friend would not be possible as the PNU side would cry foul and alas ,back to square one.let the people vote him out(or raila)whoever.at this point,an election seems the only way forward.if the IDPs can get acces to the ballot boxes then let us go ahead and end this nightmare.i agree with alexander that no kenyan org can handle this matter,we would need independent international officials

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RE: A weak presidency
written by Juma Ousman , April 09, 2008

Although ours is a nascent democracy, Kibaki has to be one of the most weak presidents any country has ever had. Instead of being decisive he seems intent to satisfying everybody which is virtually impossible.

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RE: A weak presidency
written by Juma Ousman , April 09, 2008

Although ours is a nascent democracy but Kibaki has to be one of the most weak presidents any country has ever had. Instead of being decisive he seems intent to satisfying everybody which is virtually impossible.

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