17 ministers absent as MPs discuss Kibaki speech

Prime Minister-elect Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki

POLITICS

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka was among the 17 Cabinet ministers absent as MPs started the sixth day of debating the presidential speech.
Speaker Kenneth Marende was alerted to the anomaly by Mr Soita Shitanda (Malava, New Ford Kenya) during the afternoon sitting as he requested a ministerial statement from the Local Government, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.
Said Mr Shitanda, a former Minister for Housing: ‘‘I had requested a statement from the Local government minister last week on the public transport mess involving matatus plying the Eastlands-city centre route but to date we have not received it.”

The Malava MP asked whether Mr Kenyatta was not in the House because he was trying to resolve the crisis first before issuing the statement.
It was at that point that Mr Marende interjected to confirm that the entire front bench was empty.

“We don’t have a single Cabinet minister, or the Leader of Government (Business) and his deputy in the House. This should not happen. I hope they will be here soon. I also hope that the Local government minister would be here next Tuesday to issue the statement,” he said.
But Mr Bifwoli Wakoli (Bumula, PNU) took issue with the missing ministers asking whether parliamentary business should come to a standstill in their absence.

The Speaker said the country could not be held to ransom by ministers, but excused them saying: ‘‘Perhaps it is because of the anxiety over the composition of the new cabinet.”
Ms Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes, PNU) blamed the absence of the front bench to intense lobbying by members for vacant Cabinet posts.

Later, the VP, who is the Leader of Government Business, his deputy, Justice minister Martha Karua, PM-designate Raila Odinga, and Cabinet ministers Asman Kamama (Public Service), Ali Mwakwere (Transport), Wilfred Machage (East African Cooperation) and John Munyes (Water), trooped in as the debate was concluded.

Earlier, Mr Katoo ole Metito (Loitokitok, PNU) had requested a ministerial statement on the down grading of 4,000 Form Four examination candidates last year.

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Sources: Daily Nation
Publication Date: 3/21/2008