Kalonzo fury at remarks on coalition in global magazine

By Ally Jamah and George Olwenya

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has reacted angrily to reports in an international magazine indicating the Coalition Government was crumbling.

Under the banner headline ‘The Great Rift’, this week’s edition of The Economist writes that "only their greed and pressure from abroad bind the ruling politicians in Kenya together", and that the National Accord was unravelling fast.

Mr Kalonzo yesterday said disagreements in the coalition reflected democracy.

"People think that when we disagree publicly, we are not working together in private. I don’t think there is anyone in the Coalition Government who wants it to collapse," he said.

The Economist quoted unnamed diplomats in Nairobi saying, "Kenya does not have a functioning executive, just an unholy alliance of fierce rivals."

VP Kalonzo Musyoka with Head of Chinese Communist Party Wang Jiarui when the latter called on him at his Jogoo House office, on Monday. Photo: Joseph Mathenge/Standard

The diplomats also reportedly said western governments were nevertheless determined the coalition should not collapse.

The article cited ODM and PNU failure to agree on critical reforms and setting up of a tribunal to try post-election violence suspects as signs of deep cracks. It also says ministers constantly squabble over pay, protocol, seniority, and even who gets the best rooms at get-togethers. Churches, NGOs and foreign diplomats now play the role of opposition, cajoling and threatening from the sidelines.

"So grave is the impasse that politicians are attending to their political futures rather than present troubles," The Economist wrote.

Separately, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo says ODM will use Parliament to hasten constitutional reforms.

Status quo

Mr Midiwo, one of the two parliamentary chief whips said democracy was at its best and the war in Parliament was between those advocating for change and those fighting to retain the status quo.

Speaking during a harambee in aid of Bar-Sauri SDA church in Gem constituency, Siaya District on Sunday, the legislator said nobody would stop ODM from ensuring the National Accord was respected. He declared that ODM would use its numerical strength to control Parliament if the country is to realise meaningful reforms.

"The recent ruling by House Speaker Kenneth Marende over chairmanship of the House Business Committee is the beginning of more to come," he added.

The Gem MP accused Kalonzo of being behind the mess in the Coalition Government by creating unnecessary rifts between the two principals.

Meanwhile, Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Odinga and nominated MP Millie Odhiambo have accused PNU politicians of allegedly maligning the PM and his family as part of their campaigns for the 2012 General Election. Dr Oburu and Ms Odhiambo said PNU had put in place an elaborate plans to tarnish Raila’s name.

Speaking during a harambee in aid of women groups in Central Sakwa, Bondo District, Oburu declared no amount of dirty tricks would make ODM abandon the Government and the quest for Raila to lead the country.