|
Kalonzo is new VP
Story by ERIC SHIMOLI
Publication Date: 1/9/2008
President Kibaki yesterday named a 17-member Cabinet, appointing
one of his main rivals in the presidential race Mr Kalonzo Musyoka
vice-president.
Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenya's New
Vice-President. Photo/ FILE |
But
he said that this was just part of the Cabinet and the
remaining positions will be filled later.
President Kibaki left vacant all positions of assistant
ministers while he did not mention anything about the fate of
Attorney-General Amos Wako, Civil Service Head Francis
Muthaura and all permanent secretaries.
The Director of the Presidential Press Service, Mr Isaiah
Kabira later clarified that the AG and all PSs hold executive
office and are not affected by political changes until the
President decides otherwise.
The announcement came as a
surprise to members of the Opposition who expected the
President to name his Cabinet after the peace negotiations to
be spearheaded by Ghanaian President and AU chair John Kufuor. |
Made announcement
President Kufuor arrived in the country yesterday evening and was
received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by President
Kibaki, who had just made the announcement.
The new Cabinet included 10 MPs from President Kibaki’s PNU, Four
Kanu, two ODM-K and one DP. There were two women MPs named to the
Cabinet with Ms Martha Karua retaining the Justice and
Constitutional Affairs portfolio while Dr Naomi Shaaban of Kanu
made her debut in government as Minister for Special Programmes.
Mr Musyoka, the Mwingi North MP-elect of ODM Kenya, who came third
behind President Kibaki and ODM’s Raila Odinga in the disputed
presidential election, was one of the main beneficiaries of the
new Cabinet when he was named to the number two slot, replacing Mr
Moody Awori who was defeated during the General Election.
His appointment makes him the first Vice-President from Eastern
Province since independence.
After receiving the news, Mr Musyoka said he was greatly honoured
by the appointment and thanked the President on his party’s
behalf.
He said: “I am intensely aware that the appointment comes at a
very difficult time when the country is going through very painful
moments.”
National healing
He pledged to work towards national healing and reconciliation and
said the fact that the President had announced half of the Cabinet
showed that he was still open to dialogue.
The other major beneficiary was Kajiado North MP-elect George
Saitoti, who was moved from the Ministry of Education to head the
influential Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and
Internal Security.
Immediately after the announcement, riots broke out in Kisumu,
Mathare slums in Nairobi and parts of Kariobangi North with groups
of youth lighting bonfires and blocking roads.
In contrast to the chaos, there was instant jubilation and
celebration in Mr Musyoka’s home town of Mwingi and Kitui. In
Mwingi residents gathered around TVs and radios to listen to the
announcement before taking to the streets with dance and song.
ODM Pentagon member and Eldoret North MP-elect William Ruto
accused President Kibaki of trying to scuttle the mediation effort.
“President Kibaki is showing acts of intransigence and utmost bad
faith. He is trying to scuttle the discussions with President
Kufuor. Any way, we are not interested in what he is doing,” he
said.
Added Mr Ruto: “Kibaki was not elected the President of Kenya.
Kenyans and everybody, including the international community, know
who was elected the President.”
The party’s secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o pledged that ODM
will continue with the mediation despite the naming of part of the
Cabinet.
He said that all actions being taken by President Kibaki were
“illegal” and that ODM did not recognise him as Head of State.
Earlier during the ODM MPs first parliamentary group meeting,
party chairman Henry Kosgey said they will attend Parliament on
Tuesday, but that they would sit on the Government side.
“We will elect a Speaker and deputy then decide how our MPs will
be sworn in.”
When he was sworn in for a second term, President Kibaki promised
to form a clean government with regional representation combining
youth and experience.
Rift Valley Province was the main beneficiary of the new
appointments with five Cabinet ministers.
Central Province was next with four, Eastern two, Nyanza two,
Coast two and North Eastern and Western provinces one each.
In making the appointments, President Kibaki said: “I am pleased
to announce part of my Cabinet. In forming the Cabinet, I have
considered the importance of keeping the country united, peaceful
and prosperous under a strong, broad-based leadership.
Full list
Following is the full list of Cabinet appointments:
- Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs Stephen Kalonzo
Musyoka;
- Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal
Security, Prof George Saitoti;
- Minister of State for Defence Yusuf Mohamed Haji;
- Minister of State for Special Programmes Dr Naomi Namsi Shabaan;
- Minister for Public Service Asman Abongotum Kamama;
- Minister for Finance Amos Muhinga Kimunya;
- Minister for Education Prof Sam Ongeri;
- Minister for Foreign Affairs; Moses Wetang’ula;
- Minister for Local Government Uhuru Kenyatta;
- Minister for Information and Communications Mr Samuel Lesuron
Poghisio;
- Minister for Water and Irrigation John Munyes;
- Minister for Energy Mr Kiraitu Murungi;
- Minister for Roads and Public Works John Njoroge Michuki;
- Minister for Science and Technology; Noah M. Wekesa;
- Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ms Martha Karua;
- Minister for East African Community Dr Wilfred Machage;
- Minister for Transport Chirau Ali Mwakwere.
Additional reporting by Njeri Rugene, Bernard Namunane and
Kenneth Ogosia
|
