Raila: House job is mine
By NATION Teami
In Summary
Some of the Cabinet ministers at the meeting with Kibaki were said to have described Mr Odinga’s stake as “a civilian coup” against the president.
Raila cites Uganda, Britain and Germany among other countries in the world where the Prime Minister is the leader of government business.
Kalonzo downplays wrangling over the House Business Committee saying President Kibaki and Mr Odinga will resolve the matter amicably.
Kenya’s Grand Coalition parties on Friday hardened their positions over who between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka should be the Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
President Kibaki chaired a meeting of PNU affiliate parties at State House in Nairobi where they resolved not relent while Mr Odinga declared in Eldoret he would not negotiate over the matter.
President Kibaki has written to House Speaker Kenneth Marende appointing Mr Musyoka to the position but Mr Odinga has also written staking claim to the job by virtue of his role as coordinator of government ministries.
The controversy has stalled proceedings in Parliament because no agenda can be scheduled without the committee, which is chaired by the Leader of Government Business. The wrangling between the two sides has also led to postponement of Cabinet meetings.
Friday’s State House meeting was attended by Cabinet ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Mutula Kilonzo, Mr Musyoka and Uhuru Kenyatta. Sources said the team briefed President Kibaki on Thursday’s debate in Parliament.
Some of the Cabinet ministers at the meeting were said to have described Mr Odinga’s stake as “a civilian coup” against President Kibaki, a move which they vowed not allow.
They said Mr Marende should not act as an arbitrator between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga and let the two principals to make their own consultations.
They said that they had already written to Mr Marende informing him it was the President’s prerogative to name the Leader of Government Business.
In Eldoret, Mr Odinga said ODM had a majority in Parliament and that as the supervisor of ministries, he will also control parliamentary affairs.
“I am not driven by greed for power, but as a party, we shall not allow somebody with 12 MPs to take charge of government affairs in Parliament,” said Mr Odinga, in apparent reference to Mr Musyoka.
He broke the silence over the impasse between him and Mr Musyoka that has threatened the life of Parliament during the burial of Mzee Isaiah Kimeto Barasa in Uasin Gishu District.
While dismissing any move to negotiate over the position, Mr Odinga gave examples of Uganda, Britain and Germany among other countries in the world where the Prime Minister is the leader of government business.
He said problems rocking the government could only be resolved through genuine dialogue, adding that ODM will remain united until it achieves its goals.
Agriculture minister William Ruto set the mood when he said ODM was ready for snap election due to problems facing the Grand Coalition Government.
He said the National Accord, which resulted in the Grand Coalition Government, was clear that the Prime Minister should also be the Leader of Government Business and that ODM will not be taken for a ride.
Other ODM MPs, including assistant minister Jackson Kiptanui, Musa Sirma (nominated), Prof Margaret Kamar and Peris Simam joined in the fray and accused Mr Musyoka of causing divisions between the PM and President Kibaki.
Mr Barasa, who was buried on Friday, was among five other elders who installed the PM as Kalenjin elder prior to the 2007 General Election.
Elsewhere, Mr Musyoka on Friday downplayed wrangling over the House Business Committee saying President Kibaki and Mr Odinga will resolve the matter amicably.
Speaking at Mochengo Primary School in Nyamache District during the burial of Mr Justice Ondara, who contested on an ODM-K ticket during the 2007 General Election, the VP dismissed those calling for fresh elections saying under the current circumstances, there would be more bloodshed if elections were held.
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya has asked Attorney-General Amos Wako to guide Parliament on the formation of the House Business Committee.
The lawyers, however, were categorical that Mr Wako’s advice to break the stalemate must respect the provisions of the National Accord which, they said, declares that Mr Odinga shares power equally with President Kibaki.
“There can be no better time than this when Mr Wako is supposed to end a standoff,” said LSK Chairman Okongo O’Mogeni.
Reported by Alphonce Shiundu, Benjamin Muindi and Barnabas Bii
Courtesy of:www.nation.co.ke
2 users commented in " Kenya PM Raila is the legitimate leader of Government Business in Parliament, ODM Rift Valley Political Heavy weights warns Kalonzo/PNU "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHOW SPEAKER SHOULD RULE ON HBC
When President Kibaki appointed Mr.Raila Odinga to be the the prime minister of the Republic of Kenya,He was not appointing him to ’serve’ under him,rather,he was inviting him to be an equal partner in the governance of the country.The president did this in the interest of peace and reconciliation following strife in the nation.The people of Kenya were happy with this move and commended the president and Raila Odinga for saving the country from further disintegration.The president under normal circumstances is vested with powers of appointing as well as sacking government officers.However according to the national accord signed by both Raila and Kibaki,The president cannot sack the prime minister.The logical implication of this is that since the two are equal partners and the executive authority of the president over the prime minister ended when the ink from the pen appointing Raila dried up on the paper.The position of the premier seems to have taken a life of its own.It thus behoves the president to allow Raila Odinga to be the leader of government business in parliament as his equal whilst appointing Kalonzo musoyka as deputy leader to represent him in the HBC.The speaker ,in the interest of democracy in a coalition government should advice the president to do so and then allow the house to elect representatives to the HBC.After all Raila has so far humbly given the president due respect as head of state in all government functions where both have been in attendance.Likewise Kibaki should concede the position of head of government to Raila and relax while Raila gets down to the business of delivering badly needed government services to wanaanchi.
The Baks is all mischief. One time he is all over the media telling the country that nobody can come between him and Raila. Two days he is sending a letter to the speaker putting Raila in a collission course with his principal assistant.
Youths in Kibera are in the meantime spoiling for a fight; Making all sorts of noise about an island they cannot place in a map. If you don’t see it, these are signs of things to come. A lot of people on the other side of the divide (who don’t come from a particular tribe) are just waiting for this coalition government to collapse then spring into action.
The problem is that this time it might only be worse because they have proved that only one side will benefit from whatever the political arrangement is brought upon Kenyans.
What is worse: Raila cannot control his stone throwing constituency anymore because most of them don’t feel he has what it takes to bargain for them.
Let’s avert these scenarios by appealing to those who are bent on mischief only to benefit their tribes to go home.
It is time for future leaders.
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