Hello Odhiambo:

Did you write this? You are usually very collected in your thoughts.

I am confused – what has Christianity got to do with the contours of politics and pecking orders? Then, I suggest the offices of the communion giver and choirmaster be added and all assistants become catechists. But then, the Muslims, Buddhists to Atheists would have the same vexations that you manifest.

Don’t you think the protest is coming after the left the station? No, it does not require a caveman reasoning as modernity carries no dictionary on pecking orders. Therefore, people who disagree with your construction of pecking orders are not in outer space. We are reading the same documents and taking the pulse on the dynamics. Sometimes, the maneuvers are heated and they break the thermometers on whose ego is bruised on the pecking order. Two examples:

1) It furthers no cause for animated partisans to display heckling abilities. The who-comes-second, when a joint tour was to heal and soothe, was too unbecoming of a public official. Raila hesitated when he was called to the podium. He had to be cajoled by the arm. Then, he gave the microphone directly to the President. Snubbing the VP was supposed to show the pecking order? That was public show of disorder. But the President made his public disapproval known and the VP went next – and finally the President. That was the pecking order. I wonder how that increased Ruto’s agricultural potentials in Rift Valley.

2) Raila called his first Cabinet meeting, only 4 PNU ministers showed up and none of the heavy weights – those who attended: Dr. Noah Wekesa (Forestry and Wildlife); Mr John Michuki (Environment), Mrs Beth Mugo (Public Health), Dr Naomi Shaaban (Special Programmes). The US ambassador and foreign injections came to see 50/50 implemented but did that browbeat ministers to attend? That’s why the show of power, not substance, is valuable only when ignition is required for the battle of the titanic egos – far removed from constitutionality and realities.

Back to the Pecking Order.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act did not address or change the vestiges of the Vice Presidency. That understanding is known in all capitals of the world. The VP is the first and primary assistant to the president and second in command. DECODE, SLICE, DICE – it is non-negotiable and there is no constitutional change on that. There is no piece of document that should suggest to you that the Prime Minister assumes the role of the president in his presence or absence. We can agree on broad daylight but you may be reading sentiments into the documents.

To redress the post-election strife, the Accord and Reconciliation was between two party leaders, not two executive leaders. ODM-K, KANU, etc were not parties to the discord to be accorded and reconciled. From conception to finality, the Office of Vice President Kalonzo as second in command was never in play. Here is another indicator: VP Kalonzo is also the Leader of Government business in parliament. His Home Affairs portfolio does not erode his higher office.

Now, do you see where reality trumps what you want to read? Even if the Accord was signed by Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga dangling side by side from chandeliers that couldn’t be clearer, the duo signatures merely brought together the two parties under one government and created the office of the PM; it did not address process objectives. Maybe you are also reading the traditional / conventional role of the PM. It does not apply in this newest African Twist
Model.

The Accord and Reconciliation accommodated Raila in the PM’s role and brought him under a Coalition government with the explicit duties as Coordinator/ Supervisor of Cabinet Affairs; not even government affairs in the parliament. On matters of national sovereignty, the VP is not answerable to Raila. Raila is third in the pecking order. Raila comes after Musyoka

Please, I had an interest in the protocol. You, too, may contact and get clarification from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs or call the minister – the Hon. Karua Martha Wangari. This is her number – Tel: 020-34278. She is also the Deputy Leader of Government business in parliament.

MsJoe

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In a message dated 4/29/2008 5:36:50 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
komarockswatch@ writes:

The cave men seem to know the difference more.

I normally say that we have to be honest to achieve peace, tranquility and reconciliation. There is nothing monstrous nor confusing about the pecking order. And for you to claim ignorance, then, you must be the outer space.
. . .

– – –
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 17:12:27 EDT
From: MsJoe21St@ . . .
Subject: Re:Demystifying the Pecking Order – Africa’s Power Mongering