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Kenyan power-sharing era to begin Kenyan power-sharing era to begin
(about 2 hours later)
The state opening of Kenya's parliament is due to take place in Nairobi.The state opening of Kenya's parliament is due to take place in Nairobi.
It comes a week after President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga agreed to share power.It comes a week after President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga agreed to share power.
They signed a deal to form a coalition following weeks of bloodshed - some of it said to have been state-sanctioned - after December's disputed elections. They signed a deal to form a coalition following weeks of bloodshed - some of it alleged to be state-sanctioned - after December's disputed elections.
Kenyan MPs' first duty in the next few days is expected to be voting on legislation that will put into effect the power-sharing deal. More details of the power-sharing pact are expected to be announced, with Kenyan MPs' to be begin debating the legislation next week.
BBC sources alleged meetings that led to post-election violence were held at the official residence of President Kibaki between a banned militia group, the Mungiki, and high-ranking government figures. The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says an agreement has helped to dispel anger, but much work remains to be done on how power sharing will work in practice.
The aim was said to be to hire the militia as a defence force in Kenya's Rift Valley, to protect the president's Kikuyu community from attacks by opposition supporters. The government labelled the claims "preposterous". Militia claims
Ethnic divide Mr Kibaki is chairing a meeting of MPs from his Party of National Unity (PNU) coalition and Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Thursday morning.
The violence that convulsed Kenya in the aftermath of the election left some 1,500 people dead. The president will then officially open the parliamentary session at 1430 (1130 GMT), when he is expected to reveal more details of the agreement, the National Accord and Reconciliation bill, which is expected to be published later in the day.
It is suspected post-poll violence was organised by both sides KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7165962.stm">Q: Power-sharing pact class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7270659.stm">'Too soon to celebrate'
Ethnic groups supporting Mr Odinga and President Kibaki clashed amid claims the government had rigged the poll. The agreement, brokered by UN-backed negotiators, comes after some 1,500 people died in weeks of violence following polls which Mr Odinga says were rigged by Mr Kibaki and his supporters.
International mediators led by ex-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Kenya in January in an effort to break the political deadlock. Hundreds of thousands of people were also displaced.
Under a deal agreed last week by negotiators, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post which does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution. Sources have told the BBC that some of the violence carried out by a banned militia group was state-sanctioned - a claim the government vehemently denies.
MPs from both sides have agreed to back the national accord and the necessary changes to the constitution, as well as plans to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The sources said that meetings were held at the official residence of President Kibaki between the Mungiki militia and high-ranking government figures, but the government has labelled the claims "preposterous".
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says the agreement has helped to dispel anger but much work remains to be done - and for parliamentarians it starts on Thursday. Under the power-sharing deal, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post which does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution.
They will be watched closely by a country which has suffered its worst crisis since independence 45 years ago, he says. MPs from both sides have agreed to support the national accord and the necessary changes to the constitution, as well as plans to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Analysts say there is growing suspicion the post-poll bloodshed was orchestrated by both sides of the political divide. However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's responsibilities will be.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said the president would appoint the cabinet and that the prime minister would work on an agenda set by the president.
"It is not what you would call power-sharing whereby the president and prime minister are equal... It is the president who appoints the prime minister and the whole idea is power sharing is bringing the opposition party into government on an equal basis," he told the BBC.
"You cannot usurp the constitution of Kenya and create two seats of power," he said.
However, the ODM's spokesman William Ruto told the BBC that cabinet appointments would be made by both Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga.
"It is very clear in the accord that was signed that the cabinet is going to be shared on an equal basis, and members of cabinet will be chosen from the two sides," he said.