NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – The Party of National Unity (PNU), its affiliates and friendly MPs have planned a crucial meeting on Tuesday to strategise following the disagreements between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the judicial appointments.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will chair the meeting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre that is expected to come up with ways to counter the PM’s polical tactics which PNU has interpreted as ‘seeking public sympathy.’
“The VP has called for a Parliamentary Group meeting of PNU affiliates and friendly MPs on Tuesday, February 1st at KICC, 9 am,” read an sms sent to the legislators.
According to the agenda seen by Capital News, the MPs “will discuss the actions to take against the PM for apparently misleading Kenyans contrary to the Integrity Chapter in the new Constitution.”
The pro-Kibaki MPs will decide on how to clip the “manufactured crisis” which they say “is meant to gain them (ODM) sympathy because the party is a shambles.”
A number of non-PNU parliamentarians have been appointed to the meeting and speculation is rife that they constitute the William Ruto-led ODM MPs mostly from Rift Valley and others from Coast and North Eastern regions.
On Sunday, Konoin MP Julius Kones who is the spokesman of the Ruto faction joined PNU legislators at a press conference that endorsed President Kibaki’s nominees and urged the PM to brace himself for battle in Parliament.
President Kibaki on Friday nominated Court of Appeal Judge Alnashir Visram to head Kenya\’s Judiciary. The President also named Professor Githu Muigai as his pick for the next Attorney General, while lawyer Kioko Kilikumi is listed as the country\’s new Director of Public Prosecutions.
A statement from the Presidential Press Service said the appointments had been made after consultations with the Prime Minister and in accordance with the Constitution, but Mr Odinga has insisted he was not involved. He claimed that the appointment was null and void since he was not properly consulted as provided by the Constitution.
The names are expected to be forwarded to Parliament for debate and approval after which President Kibaki will appoint the nominated individuals.
Also on Sunday President Kibaki allies said they are mulling a censure Motion against Prime Minister Raila Odinga following a row with President Mwai Kibaki over the nominations.
The 14 legislators claimed at a media conference in Nairobi that Mr Odinga was extensively consulted before the nomination was announced.
"I have a lot of respect for him (Mr Odinga) but his \’yes\’ and \’no\’ have got the same meaning. The President consulted him widely and even called him when he was in Addis Ababa but he refused to answer. If he continues like this, we are going to move a Motion of No Confidence against him," warned Kaloleni MP Kambi Kazungu.
Follow the author at https://twitter.com/waitheras
About The Author
