Kenyans cheered and danced as they witnessed the opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki signing a power-sharing agreement in Nairobi. The police used tear gas and batons to clear the group from the area shortly after the ceremony ended.
Kenyans Cheered & Danced
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…..while Kibaki(left) & Odinga(right) signed on the dotted line.
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But, will Kibaki who has deceived Odinga before be honest this time? Will there be meaningful political reforms?
The power-sharing agreement between President Kibaki, left, and Mr. Odinga involves forming a coalition government and is expected to end a two-month post-election crisis. More than 1,000 people were killed in the fighting that came after the highly disputed elections, in which there were many accusations of vote-rigging.
Supporters of Mr. Odinga’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement, celebrated in Kisumu, Kenya, after the signing. The agreement was reached only after Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, negotiated directly with Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga.
The agreement is expected to end the crippling political crisis triggered by the discredited presidential elections. President Kikwete of Tanzania, Dr Kofi Annan, and Former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa were among those who witnessed the event.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who mediated the negotiations, said the deal would be known as the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and “entrenched in the constitution”.
He outlined the key points of the agreement as follows:
- The post of prime minister will be created, with the holder having the authority to co-ordinate and supervise the execution of government functions.
- The prime minister will be an elected member of parliament and the parliamentary leader of the largest party in the National Assembly, or of a coalition if the largest party does not command a majority in parliament.
- Two deputy prime ministers to be appointed, one to be nominated by each member of the coalition.
- The prime minister and deputy prime ministers can only be removed if the National Assembly passes a motion of no-confidence with a majority vote.
- A cabinet to consist of a president, vice-president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and other ministers.
- The removal of a minister of the coalition will be subject to consultation and agreement in writing by the leaders.
- The composition of the coalition government will at all times take into account the principle of portfolio balance, and reflect the parties’ relative parliamentary strengths.
- The coalition will be dissolved if the current parliament is dissolved; or if the parties agree in writing; or if one coalition partner withdraws from the coalition.
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