Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Will Grand Coalition Cabinet Reflect The Face of Kenya?

Now that President Kibaki has confirmed that he is about to reshuffle and name the complete grand coalition cabinet, it is only fair that we ask before-hand if this cabinet will reflect the face of Kenya.

Every other cabinet Kibaki has constituted since 2002 has been grossly unfair in terms of regional distribution. However, things are a significantly different this time round because ODM is expected to nominate worthy individuals whom the president will name to the cabinet. ODM will constitute 50% of the cabinet as well as provide the Prime Ministers and one of the two deputies.

This time round, and for the sake of healing this nation, Kibaki must do some sound mathematics.

In my opinion, the top ten cabinet positions - and indeed the entire public service - should be made regionally representative for all the people of Kenya to feel a sense of belonging in this country.

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Related: Democracy Must Work For Every Citizen
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The current top-ten political/cabinet seats as they will be are;
  1. PNU: President & Head of State: Mwai Kibaki (Kikuyu – Central Province)
  2. ODM-K/PNU: Vice President: Kalonzo Musyoka (Kamba – Eastern Province)
  3. ODM: Prime Minister & Head of Government: Raila Odinga (Luo – Nyanza Province)
  4. ODM: Deputy Prime Minister: Musalia Mudavadi – (Luhya - Western)
  5. PNU: Deputy Prime Minister: (not known) – (not known)
  6. PNU: Justice & Constitutional Affairs – Martha Wangari Karua (Kikuyu – Central)
  7. PNU: Finance: Amos Kimunya: (Kikuyu – Central)
  8. KANU/PNU: Defence: Yusuf Hajji (Somalia) North Eastern
  9. FORD-K/PNU: Foreign Affairs: Moses Wetangula (Luhya – Western)
  10. PNU: Internal Security: George Saitoti (Maasai/Kikuyu - Rift Valley/Central)
It is apparent that the PNU is over-crowding the top ten.

Kivuitu's Blundering Results

To begin with, Western Province, in addition to the National Assembly Speaker and the Attorney General already has more than enough. My take is that top public positions should not be monopolised like the way AG Wako and Head of Civil Service Muthaura have done for more than 10 years now. These two should be sent packing at the same time that the cabinet is being constituted. Perhaps Raila and Kibaki should consider appointing a minority to these two positions. In this case, an Indian or Samburu or even a Borana.

It will be a major cock-up if Kibaki were to fall into the hands of Mt. Kenya mafia and appoint the Deputy PM from the GEMA region. It seems obvious that Coast province has not received its due share of the national cake. Infact it is a raw deal. Women are also conspicuously missing from the top ten power arrangement in Kenya.

During Kibaki’s reign, Eastern province has and continues to be over-fed at cabinet level. My suggestion is for Kibaki to replace Kalonzo as VP and appoint a woman from Coast province to the post. Alternatively, he may consider appointing Martha Karua Deputy PM, but then the Justice ministry should be relinquished to ODM.

Kalonzo would be best suited to lead a coalition of opposition parties and be Leadr of Official Opposition in government. If Kalonzo and his ODM-K brigade must be in government, then out of 40 cabinet portfolios, Kibaki must be able to find one for him. I would suggest Water Development, or if environment and natural resources. We must appreciate the important role of the official opposition and that the opposition leads the PAC and PIC committees in the national assembly.

On the ODM side, we know is that Charity Ngilu and Sally Kosgey are heading to cabinet. They may also throw in Millie Odhiambo, or Sofia Abdi Omar, or gender activist Ms Rachel Shebeshwho were recently nominated to parliament on ODM ticket. Interestingly, Raila is already fulfilling part of his vision by sharing positions on a 50/50 basis between men and women. Apart from Martha Karua, who sadly hails from the same province as the president, I have not seen any other woman occupy a power seat in PNU. Dr. Naomi Shaban (Miji Kenda – Coast) has been given a nondescript portfolio and is yet to cut political teeth.

Stop Press 14h00 Local Time: Parliament is about to commence debate on the two critical bills, ie. Constitution of Kenya Ammendment Bill (2008) and the National Accord and Reconcilliation Bill. The president and prime minister designate are expected to attend this session. It is expected today's session will culminate into the creation of Kenya's historic Grand Coalition Government. Updates to follow.

13 comments:

  1. Some people claim that this is the leaked cabinet list;

    KENYA’S NEW LOOK CABINET - (THE LEAKED VERSION)

    President - Emillio Mwai wa Kibaki
    Prime Minister - Eng. Raila Amollo Odinga
    Vice President - Kalonzo Musyoka
    Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Finance -
    Musalia Mudavadi
    Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Internal
    Security - Kiraitu Murungi
    Minister For Planning - Amos Kimunya
    Minister For Justice And Human Rights - James Orengo
    Minister For Constitutional Affairs - Martha Karua
    Minister For Roads And Public Works - William Ruto
    Minister For Coperative Development - Sam Ongeri
    Minister For Education for Higher Education - Anyang
    Nyong’o
    Minister For Education for Basic Education - John
    Munyes
    Minister For Housing - Kabando Wa Kabando
    Minister For Foreign Affairs - Moses Wetangula
    Minister For Science And Technology - George Saitoti
    Minister For Defence - Joseph Nkaisery
    Minister For Special Programmes - Naomi Shaaban
    Minister For Local Government - Uhuru Kenyatta
    Minister For Environment and Natural Resources - Henry
    Kosgey
    Minister For Communication,Information And
    Broadcasting - Joseph Nyagah
    Minister For Water And Irrigation - Omingo Magara
    Minister For Livestock - Samuel Poghisio
    Minister For Trade - Soita Shitanda
    Minister For Fisheries - Dalmas Otieno
    Minister For Youth Affairs - Danson Mungatana
    Minister For Gender Affairs - Mohammed Kuti
    Minister For Sports - Musa Sirma.
    Minister For Agriculture - Bonny Khalwale
    Minister For Energy-Mwangi Kiunjuri
    Minister For Health – Charity Ngilu
    Minister For Lands-Noah Wekesa
    Minister For Home Affairs - Chris Okemo
    Minister For Transport - Chirau Mwakwere
    Minister For Regional Development - Wilfred Machage
    Minister For Home Affairs - Najib Balala
    Minister For Labour - Alfred Khangati
    Minister For East African Community - Mutula Kilonzo
    Minister For Public Service - Sally Kosgey

    Attorney General - Amos Wako
    Head Of Public Prosecutions - Paul Muite
    Secretary To The Cabinet And Head Of Civil Service
    -Wangari Maathai


    Patriot Damu

    ReplyDelete
  2. Some of you guys should be comedians. Seriously. Did you think of that list while having a wet dream?
    Ati Wangari Maathai secretary to the Cabinet and head of civil service? Kiraitu Murungi deputy PM? A Ministry of public service? Do you seriously believe Kibaki will give up the Minstries of Finance, Internal security and Roads and Public works?
    What lame-brained political arithmetic is apparent in this formation? Answer: NONE.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is the proper list according to my wikipedia. Your list lacks Ameru...

    Kikuyu (Agĩkũyũ) 20.78%
    Luhya 14.38%
    Luo 12.38%
    Kalenjin 11.46%
    Kamba 11.42%
    Kisii 6.15%
    Meru (Ameru) 5.07%
    Maasai 1.76%
    Turkana 1.52%
    Embu 1.20%
    Somali 0.99% (incl. Ajuran and Ogaden)
    Taita 0.95%
    Swahili 0.60%
    Samburu 0.50%

    Minor tribes...

    * Aweer

    Bajuni
    Bukusu
    Dahalo
    Isukha
    Kore
    Kuria
    Maragoli
    Marama
    Miji Kenda
    Ogiek
    Orma
    Oromo
    Pokomo
    Rendille
    Sengwer
    Suba
    Tachoni
    Taveta
    Watha
    Yiaku

    Other non-African ethnic groups resident in Kenya for many generations are Gujaratis, Punjabis and Goans from India, Britons and Omanis

    ReplyDelete
  4. If at all it is true....Then we women also demand 50:50...You mean there are no worthy men in NEP?

    Ivy

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am contesting your list of population by tribe, the Luhya are a little above the Luo population-wise.

    Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

    Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html

    The earlier "leaked" list of Ministerial appointments, the purported is bloated. We need lean ministries.

    N

    ReplyDelete
  6. kumekucha- your list of populations is wrong!!let kenyans be counted before the next elections to get the right population counted:):) sources say kenyans have never been counted correctly to determine how many people are in the republic of kenya- so as much as you being a kikuyu wanting to sing loudly on population- it is a wast of time-
    i saw on the mashada blog someone mentioning the same but was abused and threatened by the kikuyu's on mashada!!
    and i wondered why? let kenyans decided to be counted- i bet you you the surprise will be huge- ask on the last counted he did- i understand he was in shock!! numbers then were changed according to some offers who worked it then!!

    post all the population list and maps- it won't make a difference when kenyans are counted!!this time kenyans will make sure it is done correctly just like the referendum!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. actually you are also wrong!!no body in kenya has the right population count in kenya??
    most lists are rigged- ask Moi he rigged the last one counted!!



    nonymous said...

    This is the proper list according to my wikipedia. Your list lacks Ameru...

    Kikuyu (Agĩkũyũ) 20.78%
    Luhya 14.38%
    Luo 12.38%
    Kalenjin 11.46%
    Kamba 11.42%
    Kisii 6.15%
    Meru (Ameru) 5.07%
    Maasai 1.76%
    Turkana 1.52%
    Embu 1.20%
    Somali 0.99% (incl. Ajuran and Ogaden)
    Taita 0.95%
    Swahili 0.60%
    Samburu 0.50%

    Minor tribes...

    * Aweer

    Bajuni
    Bukusu
    Dahalo
    Isukha
    Kore
    Kuria
    Maragoli
    Marama
    Miji Kenda
    Ogiek
    Orma
    Oromo
    Pokomo
    Rendille
    Sengwer
    Suba
    Tachoni
    Taveta
    Watha
    Yiaku

    Other non-African ethnic groups resident in Kenya for many generations are Gujaratis, Punjabis and Goans from India, Britons and Omanis

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I am contesting your list of population by tribe, the Luhya are a little above the Luo population-wise.

    Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

    you shuld contest more even that one is wrong?? when did the CIA go out to count Kenyans??

    ask yourself?? which population list did the use?? the Kenyatta?? who could have written any numbers to give kikuyu's more power over other tribes??
    or Moi who i understand from people who worked at the time of the population counting he reduces numbers in other parts of the country for election purposes?? and his own selfishness as a president?? or where kibaki got his??

    open your eyes to the world manipulations- nobody in kenya today knows how many people are in kenya!! that is the fact!!

    kumekucha will not post this comments because he is a kikuyu and as we have seen the kikuyu's are scared to even imagine another tribe could be larger than them!!

    it is also common sense to look at the rate of birth in provinces-
    even before the aids epidemic e.t.c
    and even now??

    a kikuyu family average 3 children per family
    luyha and luo average 5 children per family
    coast province average 4 children per family
    kamba average 4 children per family
    kalejin average 5 children per family

    so do your maths?? how can a country be stagnant at population rate with such wide margin?? since the 70's?

    let kenyans be counted?? and let the truth be told of the true population of kenya divided each tribe!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a dump squib???

    Ati Kalonzo should be removed from the cabinet in faviour of a woman fronm the Coast. Because he spoilt Raila's chances of being ppresident. Please, continue dreaming. What is the probelm with Kalonzo. He was a presidential candidate and gannered 800k voites more than Raila got in 1997 and you suggesting that he get a smaller ministry, even creating a water and natural resources for him shows your level of ignorance. He is the VP and will not get the posts you want him to get because ODM hate him.
    claiming that justice ministryv shoudl be given to ODM shows what kind of thoughts and dreams you have. An opposition ledaer in government. Which school did you go to? You are the same person who has been calling Kikuyus names and now talking of creatring posts for them. now kibaki is president do you argree with that. Infact raila should be in the opposiotion. he lost and said that he will not serve in the cabinet with a thief. has kibaki changed now?
    Njoroge Stanley, in Nevada (Kazi iendelee)

    ReplyDelete
  10. No one cares about what we say but it would be good to distribute everything equally among all and appoint a Hindu or a Briton as well to give some sense that the minorities do, as well, have rights.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You foolish tribal Kenyans. Who has bewitched you?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Njoroge Kibaki has not changed...Didn't you hear Nyong'o yesterday....Never again will anyone ever steal an election...Raila is the PM with executive authority...Is it 50%, Give us time we will ensure that he continues sleeping in statehouse, and kazi itaanza...Kazi ya kulala na kuchapwa kofi inaeza kuendelea...Hiyo hatujali and please continue working hard in Nevada

    ReplyDelete
  13. My freind Kumekucha,

    2% is not justifiable to be the percentage of Kenyan Somalis unless you are working with a 1979 census.

    If we are already 3 million Kenyan Somalis, almost half of Gikuyus, How can be Gikuyus be 22% and we are 2% unless there was a Zero after that 2(0)%.

    Again, There is a difference between Somali and Somalia.

    To say KANU/PNU: Defence: Yusuf Hajji (Somalia) North Eastern is from Somalia is out of context.

    He is a Kenyan Somali just like Masaais are from Kenya and Tanzania.



    /PNU: Defence: Yusuf Hajji (Somalia) North Eastern

    ReplyDelete

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