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Kenya MPs urged to back agreement Kenya MPs urged to back agreement
(about 2 hours 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.
I appeal to you all to be guided by a strong sense of national unity, which must override all partisan considerations President Mwai Kibaki
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 urge honourable members to ensure that all the necessary bills to implement the accord and other socio-economic reforms 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 "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.
More details of the pact are expected to be announced, with Kenyan MPs to begin debating the power-sharing legislation next week. 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.
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 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.
Speaker 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.
"The genesis of the problem that afflicted the nation would appear to have had its epicentre at the electoral commission headquarters," he said.
Power wrangling
The power-sharing agreement, the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill, has not yet been published, but Kenyan MPs are due to begin debating the legislation next week.
The BBC's Adam Mynott in Nairobi says the deal 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 the deal has helped to dispel anger, but much work remains to be done on how power-sharing will work in practice.
Militia claims 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 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.
During the parliamentary session, the president 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. 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 and a bill on ethnic relations.
KENYA PARLIAMENT ODM MPs: 102PNU MPs: 46Pro-ODM MPs: 5Pro-PNU MPs: 61Vacant seats: 6 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7165962.stm">Q&A: Power-sharing pact class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7270659.stm">'Too soon to celebrate' class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4421&edition=1">Send us your comments However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's powers and responsibilities will be.
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.
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".
Constitutional issues
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.
However, it is not yet clear what Mr Odinga's responsibilities will be.
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
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. "You cannot usurp the constitution of Kenya and create two seats of power," he said. "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.
However, the ODM's spokesman William Ruto told the BBC that cabinet appointments would be made by both Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga. "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.
"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.
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