Kibaki signs power-sharing law
2008-03-19 08:31
Nairobi - Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki signed into law two bills passed by parliament on Tuesday that put in place a power-sharing deal, which halted post-election unrest in the east African nation.
Parliamentarians unanimously passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill and the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill at a session attended by Kibaki and rival opposition chief Raila Odinga.
"The signing into law of the bill by the president will pave the way for the creation of the posts of prime minister and two deputy prime ministers as required by the envisioned grand coalition," said the president's office.
Enacting the laws was a key step in the implementation of the power-sharing pact reached by Kibaki and Odinga - designated to become prime minister - on February 28 after weeks of negotiations.
Kibaki's coalition 'will be dissolved'
The deal had raised hopes of a permanent end to the violence that erupted after Kibaki's re-election in the December 27 polls was challenged by Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) with accusations of vote rigging.
The new law stated that the governing coalition formed by the ODM and Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) would be dissolved if any one of the parties decided to withdraw.
It did not provide for new elections to be held if the coalition was broken.
It also stated that the prime minister would "have authority to co-ordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the government".
Kibaki was now expected to form a coalition cabinet to replace the one he announced days after he was declared the winner of the presidential vote. It was unclear when the coalition would be formed.
Constitutional review
Addressing parliament earlier on Tuesday, Kibaki said the two bills opened the way to resolve the political crisis.
"We are now confident a permanent solution to the crisis will be achieved," said Kibaki, himself a member of parliament for the Othaya constituency in central Kenya.
Odinga warned MPs not to halt their effort towards reconciliation and support a drive to address key underlying issues.
"A time has come for us to hold a national ethnic conference, where we will have representatives from all the 42 tribes in the country come together to discuss openly how we want to lead this country," Odinga said.
But Kibaki called for rapid constitutional review in the country, more than two years since a government-backed draft was rejected by a referendum.
"Putting in place a new constitution would form the basis for building a new Kenya and facilitate the country to join the new world," said the president.
"Distractions must not be tolerated this time and demands for the creation committees to review the constitution in piecemeal must be avoided," Kibaki said.