Ruto and Kosgei Re-Assigned Ministries in Cabinet Shuffle

State House today announced a mini-shuffle in the Cabinet which sees Rift Valley members of parliament opposed to Prime Minister Raila Odinga suffering setbacks, while those rooting for him in the ODM wrangles and in the constitutional debate enjoying promotions. The headlines will no doubt focus on the major change that sees Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Aldai MP Sally Kosgei swap ministries, with Ruto demoted from the powerful Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. Kosgei - a former head of the civil service, promoted to Kilimo House as the Minster for Agriculture.

Timeline of Raila/Kibaki Feud

On Sunday, Raila Odinga suspended Ministers Ongeri and Ruto. A few hours later Pres Kibaki rescinded the suspension setting off a series of events chronicled here.

Casting the first stone

Kenya has been at a political crossroads for far too long, and yet a new front has been set up by MPs from central Kenya allied to the PNU. They are suggesting that their Eldoret North colleague, Mr William Ruto, an ODM Pentagon member, be not part of the coalition government.

Knowing well that Mr Ruto has to be in the new Cabinet, the MPs want to throw a spanner into the works by imposing conditions on ODM that they know only too well will not be met. The main allegation against Mr Ruto are that he facilitated and/or planned post-election violence in Rift Valley Province. But can this accusation bar him from being a minister?

Read more from Donald Kipkorir here.

Cabinet woes in Kenya

Kenyans wait expectantly for the announcement of the coalition cabinet by President Kibaki. This follows the enactment by parliament of fresh legislation that paved the way for the Grand Coalition government and ‘legalised' the positions of Prime Minister and two deputies.

In a previous article, I explored the pact that brought forward the coalition deal, and the legislation that followed. I criticised the legislation as flawed and permissive. It was filled with such ambiguities that made certain that mischievous translation and misunderstanding as we had sought to avoid would surely follow. In reactions by readers on this site, those of us who were skeptical of the details in the agreement were accused of a lack of goodwill, and it was alleged that such criticism constituted part of a plot by the PNU to cheat the ODM out of what belonged to it by right of the signed document. That was not the intention then, and neither is it now. However, I remain persuaded that the weaknesses in the agreement means it will have a very short life span and we should be thankful if it lasts us to the end of this year.

Read more from Kamale T here.

Promoting hatred and violence, even now

The ODM leader Raila Odinga is a famous man for his many talents. Foremost among these are his organising and rousing skills. It is true that few politicians in the history of Kenya have had as much ability to provoke their followers to action as has the ODM's captain. So it is that many Kenyans hoped in earnest that he would be able to quell the violent passion in his supporters, that he would be able to save Kenyan lives by asking that his people restrain themselves, take to the courts and settle disputes particularly those over land in a civilised and non-violent manner. He has pointedly refused to do that, famously insisting to the foreign media that he would not anaesthetize the Kenyan people as they were being raped, and then also shocking the international media by crudely comparing the post-election tragedy with mere post-match skirmishes between the supporters of rival football clubs.

Read more from Peter Ndiangui here.

Magara and Ruto as guilty as Nyachae

While condemning Simeon Nyachae for the acts of savagery committed by his hoodlums against MPs Omingo Magara, and William Ruto, Kenyans should not ignore the part the victims played in the events.

Magara, the South Mugirango MP, and his Eldoret North counterpart should bear responsibility for their decision to storm Nyachae’s rally. The two MPs should have known – given the nature of political fundamentalists during campaigns – that walking, uninvited, into a gathering called by one of Gusii’s most vicious men was bound to result in violent confrontation. There is no doubt that prior to the attacks, Magara was aware that Nyachae gets extremely aroused by orgies of violence.

Read more here from Ombuya Okong'o.

After Kibaki

One consequence of the unraveling of the contract that held the NARC-K conglomeration together was the freeing up of Mwai Kibaki to run for a second term as President. Some uncharitable cynics may say this was the plan all along. Many more will not care either way; it has after all been a relatively benign presidency. On a broad scale of factors things are looking up. The economy is riding a comely wave, big business is humming nicely and even a stock market in the midst of a corrective run manages to reflect a confidence in the future.

[...]

Wambugu P on the immediate future of Kenya's politics, especially the personalities of NARC-K and ODM. Read more here.

Good Apples, Rotten Oranges

One immediate consequence of the victory of the NARC coalition was a somewhat infantile perception, even among Kenya's literati that the electoral victory was a moral one. We were taught that the KANU monster had been slain and that Kenyans had been freed from oppression. Those were heady highly unbwogable times. Only the very bravest masochist would now contemplate Martha Karua doing a jig on a Kisumu stage daring the world to bwogo her. Yes, such things are only possible in the deadly kiangazi of December and the New Year, more severe than ever when the nation is infected with campaign fever. So it was that the pronunciations went forth on the wires, the old man had to be defeated (he was not standing of course, but why bother with details).

[......]

Vitalis Oyudo on the, " Infallible DP versus the poor mortals, does ODM-K stand a chance in the propaganda battle?" Read more as Oyudo discusses Kenyans, accountability and public office and the different standards we hold them by.