Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NAIROBI824
2008-03-26 10:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
FORMING KENYA'S CABINET PREDICTABLY CONTENTIOUS
how-toVZCZCXRO4824 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHNR #0824 0861013 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261013Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5238 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0007 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 5901 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 5206 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 2730 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 1982 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2756 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2685 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000824
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KE
SUBJECT: FORMING KENYA'S CABINET PREDICTABLY CONTENTIOUS
REF: A. RANNEBERGER - FRAZER TELCON OF 03/25/08
B. NAIROBI 798 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for reasons 1.4 b and d.
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000824
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KE
SUBJECT: FORMING KENYA'S CABINET PREDICTABLY CONTENTIOUS
REF: A. RANNEBERGER - FRAZER TELCON OF 03/25/08
B. NAIROBI 798 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for reasons 1.4 b and d.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Disagreement over the size and composition of
President Kibaki's cabinet has delayed the final step needed
to form Kenya's coalition government. Forming a cabinet was
never expected to be a neat or easy exercise, according to
our political contacts, so this delay comes as no surprise.
Former lead mediator, Kofi Annan, has remained engaged and is
supposed to call Kibaki from New York on March 26 to advocate
resolution of this delay. In a separate matter, Parliament
has adjourned until April 15 to undergo training and
in-processing. This is not a reflection on the delay in
naming a cabinet. End summary.
--------------
Horse Trading Over Cabinet Posts Continues
--------------
2. (C) Disagreement over the size and composition of
President Kibaki's cabinet has delayed the final step needed
to form Kenya's coalition government. Assembling a cabinet
was never expected to be a neat or easy exercise, according
to our political contacts, so this delay comes as no
surprise. Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga explained to
the Ambassador on March 25 that Kibaki's Party of National
Unity (PNU) insists on creating 44 ministries and in keeping
all the major cabinet posts for itself. New posts for
Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) would be created by
dividing up the portfolios of minor ministries (in effect,
making them even more "minor"). ODM, on the other hand, has
proposed that the number of ministries not be expanded beyond
34. While ODM proposed that PNU could keep security-related
ministries, it has insisted that other major posts be shared.
Odinga told the Ambassador that he met with Kibaki for 2.5
hours on March 25, an hour of which was in private, but that
"no progress" was made. ODM spokesman Salime Lome told
Polcouns on March 26 that USG intervention may become
necessary because Kibaki's stance was that further compromise
was "not possible."
3. (C) Odinga also told the Ambassador that he spoke to Kofi
Annan on March 25, who reportedly expressed surprise that
Kibaki was not more forthcoming. Annan is supposed to call
Kibaki from New York on March 26 to advocate resolution of
this matter. Odinga asked the U.S. to weigh in as well. The
Ambassador assured Odinga of our continuing commitment in
support of the political process and that we would weigh in
as necessary depending on the results of the Annan call.
--------------
In Unrelated News, Parliament Adjourns
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 25, Parliament adjourned until April 15.
Parliament had been in special session to pass the
constitutional and statutory acts needed to create the office
of Prime Minister. Having completed that task,
parliamentarians will spend the interim in training (over 60
percent of all members are freshman) and taking care of
administrative chores and in-processing. The adjournment is
not a reflection on the delay in naming the cabinet,
political observers tell us.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Kibaki and PNU hardliners may need pressure from the
USG and others to make reasonable accommodation on sharing
major cabinet posts, because every indication is that they
are largely to blame for the problem. While ODM's leaner
government approach is appealing, political realities and the
importance of forming a government may require a somewhat
more bloated structure. End comment.
RANNEBERGER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KE
SUBJECT: FORMING KENYA'S CABINET PREDICTABLY CONTENTIOUS
REF: A. RANNEBERGER - FRAZER TELCON OF 03/25/08
B. NAIROBI 798 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Michael Ranneberger for reasons 1.4 b and d.
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Disagreement over the size and composition of
President Kibaki's cabinet has delayed the final step needed
to form Kenya's coalition government. Forming a cabinet was
never expected to be a neat or easy exercise, according to
our political contacts, so this delay comes as no surprise.
Former lead mediator, Kofi Annan, has remained engaged and is
supposed to call Kibaki from New York on March 26 to advocate
resolution of this delay. In a separate matter, Parliament
has adjourned until April 15 to undergo training and
in-processing. This is not a reflection on the delay in
naming a cabinet. End summary.
--------------
Horse Trading Over Cabinet Posts Continues
--------------
2. (C) Disagreement over the size and composition of
President Kibaki's cabinet has delayed the final step needed
to form Kenya's coalition government. Assembling a cabinet
was never expected to be a neat or easy exercise, according
to our political contacts, so this delay comes as no
surprise. Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga explained to
the Ambassador on March 25 that Kibaki's Party of National
Unity (PNU) insists on creating 44 ministries and in keeping
all the major cabinet posts for itself. New posts for
Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) would be created by
dividing up the portfolios of minor ministries (in effect,
making them even more "minor"). ODM, on the other hand, has
proposed that the number of ministries not be expanded beyond
34. While ODM proposed that PNU could keep security-related
ministries, it has insisted that other major posts be shared.
Odinga told the Ambassador that he met with Kibaki for 2.5
hours on March 25, an hour of which was in private, but that
"no progress" was made. ODM spokesman Salime Lome told
Polcouns on March 26 that USG intervention may become
necessary because Kibaki's stance was that further compromise
was "not possible."
3. (C) Odinga also told the Ambassador that he spoke to Kofi
Annan on March 25, who reportedly expressed surprise that
Kibaki was not more forthcoming. Annan is supposed to call
Kibaki from New York on March 26 to advocate resolution of
this matter. Odinga asked the U.S. to weigh in as well. The
Ambassador assured Odinga of our continuing commitment in
support of the political process and that we would weigh in
as necessary depending on the results of the Annan call.
--------------
In Unrelated News, Parliament Adjourns
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 25, Parliament adjourned until April 15.
Parliament had been in special session to pass the
constitutional and statutory acts needed to create the office
of Prime Minister. Having completed that task,
parliamentarians will spend the interim in training (over 60
percent of all members are freshman) and taking care of
administrative chores and in-processing. The adjournment is
not a reflection on the delay in naming the cabinet,
political observers tell us.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Kibaki and PNU hardliners may need pressure from the
USG and others to make reasonable accommodation on sharing
major cabinet posts, because every indication is that they
are largely to blame for the problem. While ODM's leaner
government approach is appealing, political realities and the
importance of forming a government may require a somewhat
more bloated structure. End comment.
RANNEBERGER