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 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kenyan power-sharing era to begin | Kenyan power-sharing era to begin |
| (40 minutes 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 alleged to be 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. |
| More details of the power-sharing pact are expected to be announced, with Kenyan MPs' to begin debating the legislation next week. | |
| 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 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. |
| Militia claims | Militia claims |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 Q: Power-sharing pact'Too soon to celebrate' | KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 Q: Power-sharing pact'Too soon to celebrate' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Hundreds of thousands of people were also displaced. | Hundreds of thousands of people were also displaced. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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". |
| Under the power-sharing deal, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post which does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution. | Under the power-sharing deal, Mr Odinga is to be appointed prime minister - a post which does not currently exist under the Kenyan constitution. |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's responsibilities will be. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. | 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. | "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. |
| Are you in Kenya? What are you thoughts on the significance of the opening of parliament? Will power-sharing work? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Are you in Kenya? What are you thoughts on the significance of the opening of parliament? Will power-sharing work? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |