Kenyan parliament approves law for power-sharing deal

NAIROBI – Kenya’s parliament yesterday unanimously approved a key constitutional amendment, the first of two laws needed to enact a February power-sharing deal that ended deadly post-election unrest.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill needed a two-thirds majority and was approved by all of the 200 sitting MPs in second reading, speaker Kenneth Marende announced in a special session broadcast live on television. The vote is a key step in the implementation of the power-sharing pact reached by President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga on February 28 after weeks of negotiations.The deal has raised hopes of a permanent end to the violence that erupted when Kibaki’s re-election in the December 27 polls was challenged by his rival Odinga over accusations of widespread rigging.Parliament members were expected to pass a second key piece of legislation – the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill – either later yesterday or today.The bill states that the governing coalition formed by the ODM and Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) will be dissolved if any one of the parties decides to withdraw.It does not however provide for new elections to be held if the coalition is broken.The bill says that the prime minister will “have authority to coordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the government.”The interpretation of that particular clause is expected to be hotly debated.Both bills will then require the formality of presidential assent for them to become law at which point the power-sharing deal will be formally enacted.In a speech to MPs delivered before the vote on yesterday, Kibaki expressed confidence the bill would be approved.”We are now confident a permanent solution to the crisis will be achieved,” said Kibaki, himself an MP for the Othaya constituency in central Kenya.”Let us all remain together and avoid any divisions to be able to pass these bills unanimously.We must bring back Kenya to the right track and lead our people peacefully,” he added.Odinga warned MPs not to halt their effort towards reconciliation and support a drive to address key underlying issues.Nampa-AFPThe vote is a key step in the implementation of the power-sharing pact reached by President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga on February 28 after weeks of negotiations.The deal has raised hopes of a permanent end to the violence that erupted when Kibaki’s re-election in the December 27 polls was challenged by his rival Odinga over accusations of widespread rigging.Parliament members were expected to pass a second key piece of legislation – the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill – either later yesterday or today.The bill states that the governing coalition formed by the ODM and Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) will be dissolved if any one of the parties decides to withdraw.It does not however provide for new elections to be held if the coalition is broken.The bill says that the prime minister will “have authority to coordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the government.”The interpretation of that particular clause is expected to be hotly debated.Both bills will then require the formality of presidential assent for them to become law at which point the power-sharing deal will be formally enacted.In a speech to MPs delivered before the vote on yesterday, Kibaki expressed confidence the bill would be approved.”We are now confident a permanent solution to the crisis will be achieved,” said Kibaki, himself an MP for the Othaya constituency in central Kenya.”Let us all remain together and avoid any divisions to be able to pass these bills unanimously.We must bring back Kenya to the right track and lead our people peacefully,” he added.Odinga warned MPs not to halt their effort towards reconciliation and support a drive to address key underlying issues.Nampa-AFP