As we celebrate the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement between HE President Mwai Kibaki and Hon Raila Odinga, honesty must guide the peace process so that Kenya can realize some peace and stability.

In 2002, we had an MOU which was discarded soon after President Kibaki took over. This was a painful lesson, and from its failure, we learnt a lot on how partners can be dishonest to derail national aspirations.

As we move towards the sharing of power on a 50-50 basis, we must all know that Kenya belongs to all of us. In knowing this, the spirit pf peace should make PNU have the Presidency, ODM to have the Vice Presidency.

ODM will have the Premiership, and as has been agreed, PNU and ODM will second the Deputies. This spirit should follow in ODM and PNU sharing in on all the major Ministries. If PNU has Defence, ODM must have Internal Security. If PNU has Finance, ODM must have Foreign Affairs. If PNU has Transport, ODM must have Roads and Public Works, and so on.

In this new spirit of sharing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will still have to present another scenario such that if ODM has its person in Washington as an Ambassador, PNU must have London. If ODM has its person in Germany, PNU must take France.

If ODM has Japan, PNU must have China. If ODM has Russia, PNU must have Australia and so on.

This new spirit must also see the equal involment of ODM and PNU in the distribution of Permanent Secretaries portfolios, parastatals, the police force and all major arms of government that have tended to exhibit unequal distribution of labour.

The newfound partnership must see that there will be equal distribution of resources across the country. We must not see scenarios where the Ministry of Water gives Nyeri Kshs 500 million, while Mandera that is so deserving is given only Kshs 2 million.

The time for playing some cards under the table is up. All cards must now be played aboveboard, for those placed under the table will be pulled away by cats.

Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi