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Kalonzo VP in Kibaki’s new
Cabinet
Published on January 9, 2008, 12:00 am
By Peter Murigi
ODM-Kenya leader Mr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka is the Vice-President,
in a new-look coalition government announced by President Kibaki.
But violence broke out in Kisumu and some parts of Nairobi moments
after the announcement made on the State-owned Kenya Broadcasting
Corporation (KBC).
Eldoret was also reported to be tense.
Kalonzo, the 10th VP in independent Kenya, now becomes the
greatest beneficiary of the post-election confusion that pits
President Kibaki against his chief rival, Mr Raila Odinga.
Besides Kalonzo, his ODM-Kenya chairman Mr Samuel Poghisio of
Kacheliba now becomes the Minister for Information and
Communication in a Cabinet largely picked from Kanu, ODM-Kenya and
the Party of National Unity (PNU).
Kibaki only named half of the Cabinet awaiting the outcome of
peace and reconciliation initiatives aimed at broadening his
government to accommodate the ODM leader and his troops.
The announcement of the 17-member Cabinet came just minutes before
Ghanaian President John Kuffuor touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport, Nairobi, to help find a political solution
to the festering problem sparked by the announcement of President
Kibaki as the winner of last year’s poll.
ODM insists that the election was stolen.
It was also not lost to Kenyans that besides the VP, Kibaki named
ministers to all the key ministries including Defence, Internal
Security and Provincial Administration, Finance, Foreign Affairs,
Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Public Service, Education,
Local Government, Energy, Transport, Roads and Public Works and
Information and Communication.
The only other key portfolios that he left unfilled include the
ministries of Health, Tourism, Agriculture, Trade, Lands and
Labour.
Despite Kibaki’s promise during his campaigns that he would name a
youthful, clean-hands Cabinet, he still retained his trusted old
lieutenants, including Mr John Michuki, who was transferred from
Internal Security and Provincial Administration to the powerful
Roads and Public Works ministry.
The other ministers in the new line-up include Mr Amos Kimunya,
who retained his portfolio at the Treasury, and Prof George
Saitoti, who moves from the Education docket to the Office of the
President as Minister of State in-charge of Internal Security and
Provincial Administration.
Prof Saitoti shares the OP with former powerful Rift Valley
Provincial Commissioner, Mr Yusuf Haji, who becomes the Minister
of State in charge of Defence while Taveta MP, Dr Naomi Shaaban,
the second female minister in the half-Cabinet, heads the Special
Programmes ministry.
Other ministers are former Lands Assistant minister Mr Asman
Kamama, who was elevated to Public Service minister previously
held by former Sabatia MP, Mr Moses Akaranga.
Other ministers are Prof Sam Ongeri (Education), Mr John Munyes (Water
and Irrigation) and Kanu chairman Mr Uhuru Kenyatta (Local
Government).
PNU MP for Sirisia and former Assistant Foreign Affairs minister
Mr Moses Wetangula was elevated to head the Foreign Affairs
portfolio formerly held by former Rarieda MP, Mr Raphael Tuju.
The other ministers who retained their seats are Mr Kiraitu
Murungi (Energy), Mr Wilfred Machage (East African Community), Ms
Martha Karua (Justice and Constitutional Affairs), Mr Ali Chirau
Mwakwere (Tranport) and Dr Noah Wekesa (Science and Technology).
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.
ODM feel betrayed
The mini-Cabinet crafted by Kibaki was last night being dismissed
by the Opposition as a betrayal, given the high expectations of
talks between the Head of State and Kuffuor.
ODM’s Mr Musalia Mudavadi said the President’s sole aim in
announcing the mini-Cabinet was to sabotage mediation talks with
the visiting African Union chairman.
"This means that President Kibaki has no respect for the African
Union leader who is coming to mediate in crisis over the election
which his party rigged," said Mudavadi.
Earlier on Tuesday, several civil society groupings and lawyers
under the Law Society of Kenya had called on Kibaki to postpone
naming the Cabinet until the matter of the disputed presidential
election was resolved.
Former ministers left out of the new line-up include all those
beaten in parliamentary elections, such as former VP Mr Moody
Awori (Funyula), Mr Njenga Karume (Kiambaa), Mr Musikari Kombo (Webuye)
and Mr Joseph Munyao (Mbooni).
The others are Prof Kivutha Kibwana, Mr Suleiman Shakombo, Mr
Moses Akaranga, Mr Simeon Nyachae, Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa and Mr
Raphael Tuju.
Also left out are Mr Mutahi Kagwe, Mr Mutua Katuku, Dr Mukhisa
Kituyi, Mr Mohamed Abdi Mohamud, Mr Morris Dzoro and Mr Soita
Shitanda, who retained his Malava seat.
Also in the cold are Dr Newton Kulundu, Mr Njeru Ndwiga and Mr
Henry Obwocha.
Kibaki’s move immediately raised political temperatures across the
country and re-opened wounds that were starting to heal.
There were immediate skirmishes in Eldoret, Kisumu and parts of
Nairobi.
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