Rifts in Kenya's Coalition Government
on A Serendipitous Journey (Kenya), 28/Apr/2009 06:27, 34 days ago
Following Kenya's post-election violence last year, Kenya's leaders negotiated a coalition government in an attempt to end the tribal violence which resulted in about 1,500 deaths and more than 300,000 people being displaced from their homes. From what I can tell, very few Kenyans would disagree that the government has been anything but effective ever since - paralyzed by internal disputes and struggles for power.This week, the rift between the two ruling parties (PNU and ODM) reached a new height when Prime Minister Odinga (ODM) hinted that elections should be called if he is not put in charge of government business in parliament, replacing Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka of the PNU. President Kibaki (PNU) shot back accusing Odinga's ODM of "fomenting a coup".Today, all eyes will be on the House Speaker, as he gives direction on who takes the position of Leader of Government Business and chair of the House Business Committee.Informal chats with my Kenyan acquaintances tell me that there is nothing to worry aboutyetand that it is "rhetoric". Newspaper articles seem to support this, saying "...the scenario indicates that with neither side likely to formally pull out of the coalition, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga will remain locked in a hostile embrace for a considerable period."(1)Nonetheless, these are less than happy times for the coalition government and for the people of Kenya, whose government is paralyzed with internal disputes.KENYA'S COALITION CRISISDec 2007: Disputed elections spark ethnic violenceFeb 2008: Mediators broker power-sharing government pactApril: Unity cabinet naming delayed amid last-minute dispute5 Jan 2009: Odinga holds crisis talks; says ODM being sidelined13 Jan: Inquiry amid claims of agriculture ministry maize cartels3 April: Cabinet meets on anniversary of political marriage4 April: Kilanguni retreat collapses in disarray amid arguing6 April: Odinga labels Kibaki's governing style "primitive"15 April: Odinga tells Kibaki ODM will boycott cabinet meetings(2)(1) Daily Nation. April 25, 2009. "D-day as Speaker makes big ruling" http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/591900/-/u651bx/-/index.html(2) BBC News April 24, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8020082.stm