By MARTIN MUTUA
Tuesday marks the fourth and last year of the Grand Coalition government, a regime crafted to stop bloodshed as Kenya convulsed following the bungled 2007 presidential elections.
February 28 marks the signing of the National Accord under the close supervision of African statesmen led by chief mediator Dr Kofi Annan.
On Monday, Annan said the agreement was the key to the unity of Kenya because it laid the foundation for peace and national reconciliation, and served as a springboard for stability and opportunity to Kenyans.
But he also reminded Kenyans that much still remained to be done to ensure reconciliation, national healing and cohesion.
“As the country moves towards the next General Election and the implementation of goal of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation a reality,” said Annan.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga sign the National Accord on February 28, 2008, following successful talks mediated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (standing behind Kibaki). [Photo: File/Standard]
In January, President Kibaki announced that a national conference to stem ethnic tensions and heal the country from ethnicity would be constituted, though no date has been set yet.
Annan said doing so would be important “to achieve peace, stability and justice through the rule of law and respect for human rights”.
Although the country has achieved a lot in terms of infrastructure development, many more remain, including land reform, devolution of resources and justice for post-election victims.
Last week, Parliament extended by three months the period of land reforms, while President Kibaki on Monday rejected the County Governments Bill because of what it means for the Provincial Administration.
While MPs want District Commissioners, District Officers and Chiefs deployed to work under County Governors, President Kibaki and his Cabinet insists that the age-old bureaucracy should remain under the National Government.
The implementation of the Constitution is also still in progress, while the date of the next election has not been resolved.
Kenya has also continued to grapple with basic issues, such as food security.
The Chairman of the Constitution Implementation Committee, Mr Abdikadir Mohammed, said his committee was disappointed with the Government’s style of handling Bills that seek to give effect to provisions in the new Constitution.
Mr Mohammed, while hailing the Government for its co-operation and support from the Executive, however expressed reservations on how matters were handled afterwards.
“Our major challenge was delay by Government to bring to the House critical Bills for implementation of the Constitution,” he added.
dealt great blow
And Mohammed expressed concern that with the upcoming General Election, the implementation of the Constitution was likely to be dealt great blow as matters relating to the International Criminal Court dominate the scene.
“We have major issues to deal with such as those relating to land,” he added.
Imenti Central MP Gitobu imanyara said the Grand Coalition government managed to survive beyond all expectations but at a great cost to the country in terms of corruption and extra-judicial killings.
“The culture of impunity has been institutionalised,” he added.
Safina Party Leader Paul Muite praised the Coalition Government for guaranteeing peace, free primary education and infrastructural rehabilitation.
He, however, faulted it on two scores: “They have escalated high-level corruption and failed to initiate economic and social policies targeting the majority poor”.
Government Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama said the Grand Coalition government would be credited for bringing peace following the chaotic situation after the disputed 2007 polls.
However, Muthama said it was a pity the country was still “cocooned” in tribal groupings.
“I would have expected to see an agenda such as in terms of infrastructural development, which I have not,” he added.
Muthama said he expected the Grand Coalition to deal with issues of corruption and impunity, something he said had not been achieved.
fight corruption
President Kibaki assumed power in 2003 on the platform of change and zero tolerance to corruption but nine years later, the fight corruption has stuttered, with major scandals such as Anglo-leasing, Triton, Free Primary Education and Maize unresolved still.
Due to varying political interests, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has not been re-constituted after being dealt a death-blow in the new laws.
The names of former Kenya Revenue Authority commissioner Mumo Matemu (proposed chair) and Prof Jane Onsongo and Irene Keino (members) have not been approved by Parliament. Despite submitting their names to Parliament together with the President, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for the names to be recalled and the hiring process done afresh because he believes Kenyans have lost confidence in Matemu and his team.
The arraignment of two presidential aspirants, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr William Ruto, at the International Criminal Court at The Hague as key suspects in the 2007 post-election violence has also created some political uncertainty.
The country is in the process of putting in place a workable mechanism for the newly devolved counties that includes revenue allocation to county governments.