Kenya’s Kibaki moves to reassert power

NAIROBI – Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki moved quickly to reassert his political authority by sacking his government after a humiliating defeat in a referendum on a new constitution.

In an unprecedented move, Kibaki said on Wednesday night he wanted to reorganise and unite his cabinet, which has hardly met in the last three months and has been too divided to pass much-needed reforms. Analysts said the resounding rejection of the proposed constitution in Monday’s historic poll was a vote of no confidence in Kibaki’s government and he had no option but to show he still runs the country.”He had to make sure that people know that he is in charge.People have said they are not satisfied with the pace of reforms because of the infighting in his cabinet,” said Arun Devani, chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.Kibaki’s championing of the charter worsened the rifts in the ruling coalition, and opponents turned the vote into a referendum on his nearly three years in power since winning elections in 2002.Kenyans have been calling for a new constitution since the early 1990s to replace one that critics say fosters corruption and nepotism because of the president’s immense powers.But opponents said the new text failed to curb those powers, a touchy issue for Kenya’s 32 million people fractured by years of so-called “Big Man” rule.The referendum campaign, in which at least eight people were killed, also re-awakened tribalism, with many viewing Kibaki’s proposed charter as favouring the interests of his Kikuyu tribe, Kenya’s largest, at the expense of all others.By sacking the entire cabinet, Kibaki also wanted to have a clean slate for his government after criticism that he did not deliver on election pledges to create jobs and eliminate graft.”It is also positive for the economy as it gives him an opportunity to start afresh.All depends on whom he picks for his cabinet,” said Evans Osano, senior investment manager at AIG Global Investment Company.Kibaki said in his televised address that he would announce a new government lineup “before the end of two weeks.”Cabinet divisions had been fuelled by Kibaki’s failure to adhere to a pre-election deal that his National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) share power with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of charismatic leader Raila Odinga.LDP ministers were vocal in the “No” campaign, opposing the president and trading insults with those close to him.The party joined the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU) in the “No” camp, winning 57 per cent of the 6 million votes cast in the referendum.Analysts said the bad blood between Kibaki cabinet allies and their LDP colleagues had slowed his development agenda.”(Kibaki) is looking for a fresh start, which means the whole LDP brigade has to go.He needs people to deliver both economic development and a win in 2007,” said political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi, referring to the next election.- Nampa-ReutersAnalysts said the resounding rejection of the proposed constitution in Monday’s historic poll was a vote of no confidence in Kibaki’s government and he had no option but to show he still runs the country.”He had to make sure that people know that he is in charge.People have said they are not satisfied with the pace of reforms because of the infighting in his cabinet,” said Arun Devani, chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.Kibaki’s championing of the charter worsened the rifts in the ruling coalition, and opponents turned the vote into a referendum on his nearly three years in power since winning elections in 2002.Kenyans have been calling for a new constitution since the early 1990s to replace one that critics say fosters corruption and nepotism because of the president’s immense powers.But opponents said the new text failed to curb those powers, a touchy issue for Kenya’s 32 million people fractured by years of so-called “Big Man” rule.The referendum campaign, in which at least eight people were killed, also re-awakened tribalism, with many viewing Kibaki’s proposed charter as favouring the interests of his Kikuyu tribe, Kenya’s largest, at the expense of all others.By sacking the entire cabinet, Kibaki also wanted to have a clean slate for his government after criticism that he did not deliver on election pledges to create jobs and eliminate graft.”It is also positive for the economy as it gives him an opportunity to start afresh.All depends on whom he picks for his cabinet,” said Evans Osano, senior investment manager at AIG Global Investment Company.Kibaki said in his televised address that he would announce a new government lineup “before the end of two weeks.”Cabinet divisions had been fuelled by Kibaki’s failure to adhere to a pre-election deal that his National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) share power with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of charismatic leader Raila Odinga.LDP ministers were vocal in the “No” campaign, opposing the president and trading insults with those close to him.The party joined the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU) in the “No” camp, winning 57 per cent of the 6 million votes cast in the referendum.Analysts said the bad blood between Kibaki cabinet allies and their LDP colleagues had slowed his development agenda.”(Kibaki) is looking for a fresh start, which means the whole LDP brigade has to go.He needs people to deliver both economic development and a win in 2007,” said political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi, referring to the next election.- Nampa-Reuters