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Kibaki set to open parliament
15/01/2008 08:32 - (SA)
Nairobi - Kenya's rival factions girded for fresh political battles on Tuesday at the first sitting of the new parliament as former United Nations chief Kofi Annan was set to make an effort to ease the crisis triggered by last month's disputed presidential election.
President Mwai Kibaki was set to open the country's 10th parliament at 10:00, almost three weeks after he won re-election by a razor-thin margin the opposition claimed was engineered by vote fraud.
However most of his close allies would not be sitting in the chamber, having lost their parliament seats to the opposition in legislative elections also held on December 27.
Meanwhile, Annan was expected in Nairobi to lead a panel of senior African political figures in the latest attempt to resolve the political crisis, which had triggered violence that had killed hundreds and forced more than a quarter of a million people from their homes.
Annan 'to work with Kibaki, Odinga'
Annan said in a statement prior to his departure: "No party should create facts on the ground or engage in acts that complicate the search for a negotiated solution."
"The interests of the nation and the people must be paramount," added Annan, who faced a Herculean task that last week defied his fellow countryman, African Union chief and Ghana president John Kufuor.
The former UN secretary-general had agreed to work with both Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose hardline positions remained unchanged, although the government had denied the need for international mediation.
"We won the elections so we do not see the point for anyone coming to mediate power-sharing," Roads and Public Works Minister John Michuki, a hardline member of Kibaki's new cabinet, said.
Neither Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) nor Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secured a majority in parliamentary polls, prompting both sides to woo smaller parties ahead of parliament's re-opening.
Four candidates enter the race
The ODM, which claimed Kibaki stole the presidential election by vote fraud, won the most seats, capturing 99 of the chamber's 222 seats. The PNU won 43 seats and a smaller coalition partner 16 seats.
The speaker's election required a two-third majority for the first two rounds, but required only a simple majority if the vote moved to a third round, according to parliamentary standing orders.
Four candidates had entered the race, with the government side supporting the re-election of veteran speaker Francis ole Kaparo, while the opposition was fronting MP-elect Kenneth Marende.
Both sides were confident of winning the first contest of political strength in the national assembly.
"We have already done an audit and established that we have the majority on the floor of the House," said Mutula Kilonzo, the spokesperson of the government side.
ODM member William Ruto said: "The battle will today shift to the House after they rigged us out."
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