April 28, 2008
We, the Nyanza Religious leaders find it extremely in bad taste for some individuals in the government to try to cause confusion and unnecessary wrangles over who between Prime Minister Hon Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is senior in government structure.
It is very obvious that according to the historical National Accord signed after the post election violence and the entrenchment into the constitution the creation of the Prime Minister’s post, the Hon Raila Odinga is senior to the Vice President as he supervises government ministries including that of the Home Affairs held by Kalonzo.
Kenyans are disappointed by the silent wars aimed at lowering the office of the Prime Minister and we now petition President Kibaki to come public and talk about the government pecks between the two offices.
President Kibaki stands to be blamed by the embarrassment that the country gets from the Protocol issues as he is the one who signed the power sharing deal with Hon Raila and not Kalonzo or any other person.
What is so urgent in the country is to rebuild the country and reconcile Kenyan communities through sincerity among leaders. What Kenyans and the world is now reading on the way some people in the government want to treat Prime Minister Hon Raila Odinga is sending bad signal and need to be addressed urgently.
The National Accord was only signed by Hon Kibaki and Hon Raila, a move that restored calm in the country and it is on that basis that the two and their allies must always remain sincere to one another.
It is clear that the Prime Minister has constitutional powers unlike the Vice President who is junior and has no constitutional authority. The VP cannot therefore even try to be equal to Hon Raila Odinga leave alone imagining to be senior to the Prime Minister. How can Kalonzo be compared with Hon Raila Odinga even on political line as he has 16 Members of Parliament against 99 Members of Parliament of the Hon Raila Odinga of ODM party.
As Church leaders, we are bound duty to tell Hon Martha Karua and Hon Mutula Kilonzo not to cause confusion in the pecking powers between the two offices, as they-. Hon Karua and Hon Mutula-.were in the negotiation team and they clearly know what was discussed and the circumstances that led to the signing of the Accord and the subsequent of the constitutional amendment for the Prime Minister’s office and the equal power sharing of 50—50 basis.
The accord was an agreement for the sake of the country and signed by the two principals only, Hon Kibaki and Hon Raila and this is why we demand that President Kibaki addresses the pecking order as matter of urgency orelse will start suspecting his sincerity in the whole process.
Whenever people of Kenya are crying for help, they are mentioning President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Hon Raila Odinga. The name of Hon Kalonzo has never appeared anywhere when people of Kenya are appealing for help. Hon. Kalonzo and his allies should know that Kenyans are keenly watching their actions with serious concern and should therefore stop causing more political confusion in the country.
Kenyans know that Hon Raila severally stooped too low to ensure that peace returned in the country and it would therefore be prudent for President Kibaki to reciprocate that gesture by ensuring that Hon Raila exercised his powers as was agreed.
Members of parliament should also realize that the country has a Grand Coalition Government and they cannot therefore have an opposition to their own Government. This means that Legislators on the back beaches from both ODM and PNU affiliate parties should play their active roles in ensuring that Kenyans’ matters were well articulated in parliament but not through a formation of Grand opposition in Parliament. Members of Parliament should fight for a New Constitution which the Government promised in 12 Months.
God bless Kenya, its Leaders and people.
SIGNED BY: BISHOP DR. WASHINGTON OGONYO NGEDE
CHAIRMAN NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS & POWER OF JESUS AROUND THE WORLD CHURCH.
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
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Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:27:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede”
PRESS RELEASE FROM NYANZA CHURCH LEADERS OVER GOVERNMENT PECKS BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER AND VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE.