A cross section of Kenyans have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with both the government and the opposition after a power-sharing deal that led to a coalition government failed to name a working cabinet. This comes after President Mwai Kibaki chaired a cabinet meeting Monday, described as testy, with most ministers divided on what positions to allot to the opposition, as stipulated in the power sharing deal. The opposition had demanded a lean government and a portfolio balance in accordance with the power-sharing deal.
The power-sharing deal, brokered by former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan effectively ended the post-election violence that led to a loss of lives and property.
From the capital, Nairobi, political analyst Michael Tiampati tells reporter Peter Clottey that Kenyans have been getting mixed messages from both the government and the opposition.
“Kenyans are reacting with a lot of impatience because they’ve been waiting for way too long for the two principals to really come up with an arrangement that would save the country unnecessary anxiety and put the country back on track,” Tiampati noted.
He said both leaders of the government and the opposition have so far failed to live up to expectations after the power-sharing deal.
“Most Kenyans, especially those people in the rural areas are really looking up to the principals, that is President Mwai Kibaki and Honorable Raila Odinga, to truly sort out this situation so that they can continue with their normal life. And also for those in the internally displaced camps to be resettled and their issues being sorted out as soon as possible because with every dawning day, the anxiety, the impatience, the lack of kind of direction is really throwing most Kenyans off balance because they do not know what the future holds for them,” he said.
Tiampati said Kenyans are somewhat unhappy about the political wrangling between the opposition and the government over the power-sharing deal.
“From the political arena, Kenyans are only getting mixed signals. For instance there is this feeling that those constituting the current cabinet, some of them, or the so-called hard liners, are digging in their heels and insisting on retaining the positions in cabinet that are considered to be really powerful or influential, while others still in the cabinet are said to be really pushing to be sustaining their standing, pushing for equitable sharing of cabinet in order to save the country or save the country from unnecessary anxiety,” Tiampati pointed out.
Meanwhile, pressure reportedly continues to mount on both President Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Odinga to name a working cabinet as both parties take a bold stand on the look of the new government.
