This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7280520.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Kenya MPs urged to back agreement | Kenya MPs urged to back agreement |
| (4 days later) | |
| Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has urged MPs to pass into law a power-sharing agreement aimed at ending weeks of post-election violence. | Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has urged MPs to pass into law a power-sharing agreement aimed at ending weeks of post-election violence. |
| Mr Kibaki told the state opening of parliament in Nairobi that the deal would lay "the foundations for peace and stability in our country". | Mr Kibaki told the state opening of parliament in Nairobi that the deal would lay "the foundations for peace and stability in our country". |
| Under the deal, opposition leader Raila Odinga would become prime minister. | Under the deal, opposition leader Raila Odinga would become prime minister. |
| Hundreds of people have died in violence following polls in December, which Mr Odinga said were rigged. | Hundreds of people have died in violence following polls in December, which Mr Odinga said were rigged. |
| Addressing parliament, Mr Kibaki said the accord was a first step towards achieving a prosperous future for all Kenyans. | Addressing parliament, Mr Kibaki said the accord was a first step towards achieving a prosperous future for all Kenyans. |
| I appeal to you all to be guided by a strong sense of national unity, which must override all partisan considerations President Mwai Kibaki In pictures: Parliament opensHard road for MPs "I urge honourable members to ensure that all the necessary bills... are dealt with promptly so that Kenya can restore and even exceed its former glory," he said. | I appeal to you all to be guided by a strong sense of national unity, which must override all partisan considerations President Mwai Kibaki In pictures: Parliament opensHard road for MPs "I urge honourable members to ensure that all the necessary bills... are dealt with promptly so that Kenya can restore and even exceed its former glory," he said. |
| Ahead of the opening, President Kibaki said Kenyans were "keen to see an end to partisan bickering". | Ahead of the opening, President Kibaki said Kenyans were "keen to see an end to partisan bickering". |
| "They want pragmatic solutions, not ideological posturing. They want their leaders to place the country above party and individual interests," he said. | "They want pragmatic solutions, not ideological posturing. They want their leaders to place the country above party and individual interests," he said. |
| The session was opened with two minutes of silence - one for two MPs killed in the violence, the other for some 1,500 others who died. | The session was opened with two minutes of silence - one for two MPs killed in the violence, the other for some 1,500 others who died. |
| The two leaders were seen talking amicably over refreshmentsSpeaker Kenneth Marende, a member of Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, urged parliament to "stand tall and try to make Kenyans proud". | The two leaders were seen talking amicably over refreshmentsSpeaker Kenneth Marende, a member of Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, urged parliament to "stand tall and try to make Kenyans proud". |
| He also blamed the country's electoral commission for the country's crisis. | He also blamed the country's electoral commission for the country's crisis. |
| "The genesis of the problem that afflicted the nation would appear to have had its epicentre at the electoral commission headquarters," he said. | "The genesis of the problem that afflicted the nation would appear to have had its epicentre at the electoral commission headquarters," he said. |
| The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi said that from the atmosphere in the parliament, it did seem that the two parties were united, despite their previous animosity. | The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi said that from the atmosphere in the parliament, it did seem that the two parties were united, despite their previous animosity. |
| The outwards signs suggest that Kenya is moving steadily down the path to a unified government, but there will be obstacles along the way, he says. | The outwards signs suggest that Kenya is moving steadily down the path to a unified government, but there will be obstacles along the way, he says. |
| Power wrangling | Power wrangling |
| MPs are being asked to back four key bills: | MPs are being asked to back four key bills: |
| Kenyan MPs are due to begin debating the national accord and reconciliation bill next week. | Kenyan MPs are due to begin debating the national accord and reconciliation bill next week. |
| It is very clear in the accord that was signed that the cabinet is going to be shared on an equal basis William RutoODM spokesman Our correspondent says the deal has helped to dispel anger, but much work remains to be done on how power-sharing will work in practice. | It is very clear in the accord that was signed that the cabinet is going to be shared on an equal basis William RutoODM spokesman Our correspondent says the deal has helped to dispel anger, but much work remains to be done on how power-sharing will work in practice. |
| Under the deal, brokered by UN-backed negotiators, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post that does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution. | Under the deal, brokered by UN-backed negotiators, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post that does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution. |
| However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's powers and responsibilities will be. | However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's powers and 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. KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 Q&A: Power-sharing pact'Too soon to celebrate'Send us your comments "It is not what you would call power-sharing whereby the president and prime minister are equal... | 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. KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 Q&A: Power-sharing pact'Too soon to celebrate'Send us your comments "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 in power sharing is bringing the opposition party into government on an equal basis," he told the BBC. | "It is the president who appoints the prime minister and the whole idea in 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. | "You cannot usurp the constitution of Kenya and create two seats of power," he said. |
| However, ODM spokesman William Ruto told the BBC that cabinet appointments would be made by both Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga. | However, ODM 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. | "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. |