Kibaki and Raila sign power-sharing deal
Published on February 28, 2008, 12:00 am - EAStandard
By Stephen Ndegwa and Roseleen Nzioka
We have a deal. That was the announcement from the chief mediator Koffi Annan when he declared that the Panel of Eminent persons had finally managed to help Kenya find a political solution.
Annan said President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga had agreed to share power through the creation of the posts of prime minister and two deputies.
Onlookers, who included diplomats and cabinet ministers, clapped as Kibaki and Raila signed the political deal outside the Office of the President Harambee House.
The leader of the party with a majority in parliament will become the prime minister and each party (ODM and PNU) will appoint a person to assume deputy PM posts.
Annan said the PM, who must be an elected member of parliament, will co-ordinate and supervise government operations and.
According to the deal, the prime minister and his deputies can be only be removed from office through a motion of no confidence in parliament.
Any other minister will be removed after consultations and Government must reflect parliamentary strength.
Annan said the new changes in the structure of government would have to be entrenched in the constitution through a Constitutional Amendment and an Act of Parliament.
Annan called for the beginning of the healing and reconciliation process as his team begins discussing agenda number four - long term issues including constitutional review, land and institutional reforms.
AU Chairman and Tanzania President, Jakaya Kikwete, and former Tanzania president Benjamin Mkapa witnessed the signing of the pact on Thursday afternoon.
"The signatures mean nothing if no implementation is done. This requires the political will of the political class of Kenya because they can make or break the agreement," said Kikwete adding that Kenyans must appreciate that the deal was the best that could be made "under the circumstances."
In his speech Raila for the first time since the crisis began following the disputed results of last General Election, addressed Kibaki as the President. In previous occasions he always referred to him as Honourable Kibaki or Mr Kibaki. Raila said that the crisis had offered an opportunity to form a firm foundation for a more united country adding that ODM was fully committed to the agreement. He regretted that Kenyans had had to endure two months of sadness following the crisis that gripped the country following the disputed presidential elections that has seen more than 1000 people killed and thousands other have displaced.
Raila thanked Kenya’s international friends saying without their intervention it would not have been possible to have an agreement, adding that as leaders, they have now moved from confrontation to cooperation.
He challenged Parliament to ensure that laws are enacted to begin the task of nation building and reconciliation.
President Kibaki said the mediation process had reminded Kenyans that they had more issues that unite them than divide them adding that all citizens must participate in the process of peace-building and tolerance.
Kibaki said his Government would support the agreement reached under the national dialogue adding that the constitution would be reviewed comprehensively. He said the new partnership with ODm would strengthen the government in addressing the challenges of negative ethnicity and national cohesion among others.
Kibaki announced that the State opening of Parliament would be held on Thursday next week.
