Many Kenyans did not watch the football this weekend, they were at home waiting on the announcement of the Cabinet results, looking for relief after three months of almost fictional horror.
But it was real enough, and as elements of the political class keep reminding us, a sequel is on the cards should their angry spirits not be mollified. The major reason for their grief, are captured in words that have now come into the shrine of our political lexicon for all time, Portfolio Balance. The trouble is, what seems important to some, seems less important to others.
Which ministries do you think are crucial to the running of the state and under whose control do they fall? Is the very idea of a Grand Coalition under such circumstances not anathema to national progress, after all the vigorous arguments betray a desire in the politicians not to serve all Kenyans but to serve specific narrow passions of their own.
Was the Salim Lone list fair? There seem to be an equal number of people on both sides (aside from those whose direct interests were at risk), who felt that the agreement was too lenient on the other side. Supporters of the ODM swore against their champion Raila for being 'outsmarted by an octogenarian'. He should never have let the PNU have finance, and by all accounts giving away the Justice and Constitutional Affairs office was criminal, simply criminal considering the prominence of the reform agenda for the ODM.
On the other side were great numbers cursing the President, 'someone should have gone in with him, how dare he give away Foreign Affairs, or most egregious of all, how dare he give away Local Government'?
What seems clear is that the levels of distrust are so great, that either side is looking at this distributive process as something of an arms race, looking to build up its armoury so as to withstand and retailate should it be attacked. Which side comes off better in the Lone list? Is the argument valid, that a certain party 'should' have a certain post? Are there any teeth in the threats issued now regularly from the ODM? Are the rumours of threats from Uhuru Kenyatta valid, and if so should the President not call his bluff? Is the KANU boss able to deliver on his threats?
Given the prominent role of the civil service, the centrality of Vision 2030 and the lesson hopefully well-learned that the experts are best allowed to do their jobs unhindered, does it really matter who gets what post? Are not the most radical decisions made by the Cabinet? Any hope that the politicians will be driving any progress , or will they spend their days bickering and making merry ?
Final question for this entry, does anyone understand the sudden rise to prominence of Prof George Saitoti and Dalmas Otieno at these talks? These two after all are hardly ancient best friends of their principals?
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