“To the victors go the spoils”. In this past election there were no victors, so power-sharing became the rule of the day in the tenth parliamentary government.
In the past, cabinet ministries have been awarded for all sorts of reasons: from tribal loyalty, to party affiliations and regional alliances. I am of the opinion that the grand coalition government should not back the past trend of appointing cabinet ministers based on the aforementioned criteria. It is spelled out in the power-sharing agreement that the cabinet posts be shared 50/50 between both PNU and ODM. Please, Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, for the first time in Kenya’s history, select the most qualified people to fill these posts. I don’t care if one tribe or region has the more than another. Appoint these people to run these ministries. For what the country has gone through and is still trying to recover from, this is not the time to award politicians with public posts based on “back door deals”, tribal loyalty and regional consideration.
For the first Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, the country needs full disclosure of the qualifications and the track record of the people you will be appointing to these cabinet positions. The qualification and experience of MPs filling these cabinets post should be posted on a public government website for all to see. In addition, you should set minimum service standards that each minister should deliver to the public in his or her ministry. The pending power-sharing agreement does not say that each 40+ Kenya tribe is entitled to a cabinet post in this administration. My hope is that the two of you will select the most qualified people from your parties who can run these ministries most efficiently so that services are properly delivered to the public.
In this new power-sharing administration, elected politicians should focus on passing legislation that can heal this country and stimulate more economic development. For the first time, Kenya’s politicians should put the interest of the public ahead of their own narrow interests. Economic and public resources in this country should not be awarded based on who holds the office of President, Prime Minister, Vice President or Cabinet Minister running a ministry. The cabinet post should not continue to be a choke point for public resource distribution where tribal, and regional bias becomes the rule for making decisions. It is sad, but true, that most politicians in this country are remembered or known for the cabinet post they hold rather than a piece of legislation they passed in the parliament. Like other Kenyans I would probably like all the cabinet ministers to hail from my tribe, but that is not realistic and ultimately unfair, which is why a merit-based cabinet selection is the best way to handle things this time. Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, I urge you to select the most qualified people to be vetted by the public, media and the non-partisan groups to fill these cabinet posts. If you select these cabinet members solely on political affiliations, tribal loyalty and regional considerations, the public and the country will continue to get the poor services from they’ve always gotten.
And if the cabinet ministers cannot be selected on their merits and qualifications alone, then your government should create 40+ ministries that will guarantee at least a cabinet post to each tribe in the country.
Orao
This was all the fighting about, I better we have 40 ministries to support all tribes other than go the past bloody way again;we had violence coz some felt that they were not represented, so let us get the best from among each tribe represented and give them the jobs at whatever cost.If we talk on merit we will be backtracking on what has just been realised.Kenya is on blessings line irrespective of who steers the wheel and more checks will be entrenched thro institutions. Let us get the tribal thing first.Kibaki had given the best qualifications a chance and he was considered a fail, lets now try tribal, we r on trial n error.
Ken.
U R 100% RIGHT. PEOPLE LIKE ORENGO ANYANGO NYONG HAVE FOUGHT FOR CHANGE EVER SINCE 70’S 80’S UP TODATE THE DESERVE ANYTHING AND EVEN NOW THEY HAVE SHOWN THEY HAVE BRAINS. I HOPE U AGREE MOI CLAN SHOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE. LIKE RUTO HE IS CORUPT TO DEATH. LAKINI RAILA ROYAL GROUP AND SOME IN PNU ARE GOOD GUYS WHO I BELIVE THEY CAN PERFORM FOR ALL OF US AS KENYANS,
It is right for one to propose that cabinet ministers be appointed on merit alone in an ideal political scenario.But ours is not ideal,merit alone is not enough if the party has an ambtion to clinch the presidency in kenyan politics.For the aforementioned reason it is imperative to attain regional balance.
It is therefore my contention that as we persue merit, we have to attain regional balance.Best brains cant be found in a single tribe.Infact from the previous election it is apparent that,the trend of tribal appointments irrespective of merit is a disaster to our social fabric.
THE ACCORD ALLOWS RAILA TO FORM THE CABINET-NOT KIBAKI….see # 4-key points below:
People have been all over this board saying the accord -“left Presidential powers intact” and thus Kibaki is to appoint the Cabinet- this is so wrong.
“Power is being shared 50-50” between Raila and Kibaki
That statement diminishes his presidential powers by 50%….it does not remain “intact”.
This is consitent with # 4 on key points-
“the coalition composition will reflect true potfolio of powersharing with the majority party having “parliamentary strength” -which means Raila and his ODM forms the Government [Cabinet]-more important even the “Deputy Prime” ministers are above Kibaki-because he will be unable to Dismiss them-they dont serve at the pleasure of the President…thus they pledge allegiance to the Flag & country-not President Kibaki.
All ministers appointed by Kibaki-must seek re-appointment under the accord or lose those positions forthwith.
More noteworthy-there is no position for the Vice president in this accord and Kalonzo Musyoka better look for another job..because his job is being taken by the “Deputy Prime” minister of the minority party.
The present government under the Accord succeeds or fail under ODM govarnace and as such Raila has all the “supervisiory authority to hire and fire”- he can even fire President Kibaki-not the otherway around.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7269476.stm
THE ACCORD REQUIRES CABINET MINISTERS APPOINTED BY KIBAKI BEFORE COALITION TO GIVE UP THEIR POSTS TO CONFORM WITH THIS REQUIREMENT:
“The removal of a minister of the coalition will be subject to consultation and agreement in writing by the leaders”
CABINET MINISTERS APPOINTED BY KIBAKI BEFORE COALITION MUST GIVE UP THEIR POSTS TO CONFORM WITH THIS ACCORD REQUIREMENT
A’The removal of a minister of the coalition will be subject to consultation and agreement in writing by the leaders”