SussexSaturday, April 30, 2011
Cabinet reshuffle and 2012 political equation
Saturday
April 30, 2011
April 30, 2011
Politics
FILE | NATION Eldoret North MP William Ruto leaves the Nairobi law courts after he was acquitted of fraud charges on April 12. Speculation is rife that the suspended minister is headed back to Cabinet.
By JULIUS SIGEI juliussigei@gmail.com
Posted Friday, April 29 2011 at 22:00
Posted Friday, April 29 2011 at 22:00
In Summary
- Prime minister is expected to drop foes for his loyalists
The impending Cabinet reshuffle following the acquittal of Eldoret North MP William Ruto from a fraud case is set to change the political scene ahead of next year’s General Election.
A number of political analysts with which the Saturday Nation spoke, said Prime Minister Raila Odinga might use the opportunity to edge out not only Mr Ruto, who has been a thorn in his flesh, but other rebels such as Tourism minister Najib Balala and Agriculture minister Sally Kosgei.
They said Dr Kosgei’s situation might be compounded by the current seed shortage and the high food prices seen against her earlier statement that a ministerial flag was just a piece of cloth to help her evade traffic jams.
Another MP who is likely to face the axe, according to sources in the know, but who requested not to be named for revealing government secrets is Livestock assistant minister Aden Duale, who is the most vocal critic of the PM outside the Kalenjin Rift Valley.
“Raila and Ruto’s political divorce is a forgone political conclusion. It does not make any political sense for the former to try and appease him,” said University of Nairobi Political Science lecturer Adams Oloo.
He said Mr Odinga was instead likely to reward those who have stuck with him despite immense political pressure from their backyards.
He said a reinstatement of Mr Ruto will send the wrong signal to the PM’s remaining allies who have been waiting in the wings expecting to benefit from an arising vacancy.
“I have in mind such people as assistant ministers Magerer Lang’at and Margaret Kamar, as well as Nominated MP Musa Sirma. Stemming further exodus from his camp is important for psychological purposes,” said the political analyst.
Some insiders also say that the reshuffle is expected to benefit Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba who has lately been close to the PM.
However, details were vague as to who the young lawyer could replace given that there is no minister in his Western backyard who has serious loyalty or efficiency problems.
No far reaching effect
But Prof Macharia Munene of United States International University was of the opinion that much should not be read into the reshuffle, as it was unlikely to be far reaching.
He said President Kibaki was likely to just go ahead and reinstate Mr Ruto given the current camaraderie between them.
“While the National Accord requires the two principals to consult in any Cabinet appointment, it is not explicit on the reinstatement of suspended ministers,” said Prof Munene.
He predicted that Mr Ruto will most likely come back without much fuss like in the case of Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi after he was absolved of wrongdoing in the Triton oil scandal.
On the much touted downsizing of Cabinet, he said he could not see it coming as it would mean loss of jobs for strategic allies at a time when the general election is around the corner.
There has been a clamour for a trimmed Cabinet in the wake of the current high food and fuel prices with assistant ministers Kabando wa Kabando and Nderitu Muriithi suggesting 24 ministers down from the current 42.
“What is easier is to leave the vacant posts unfilled and instead restructure the ministries to fit the current number of ministers,” said Prof Munene.
Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua had earlier said a suspended minister’s presumption of duty was automatic once they are cleared of corruption charges.
Outspoken Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, said immediately after Mr Ruto was acquitted, Head of Public Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura called and told him to resume duty.
Anti-capitalist protesters gather in Brighton
Sussex30 April 2011 Last updated at 12:40 GMT 
An anti-war protest in the city in 2010 led to a series of clashes between police and protesters
Before the event, officers had called on the organisers to come forward and speak to them.
A similar May Day protest in the city two years ago led to a series of clashes between police and protesters.
Sussex Police said one person had been arrested in connection with "serious disorder" during a demonstration in central London last month.
'Resist oppression' The protesters announced the location at 1130 BST of the start of the protest on social networking sites.
They first gathered near the West Pier on the seafront and made their way through Middle Street towards Ship Street.
In a press release, the organisers said the event brought together local groups including Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, Smash EDO, Squatter Networks of Brighton and Brighton Hunt Saboteurs.
It said May Day was a time to "stand up for workers' rights and resist oppression".
Sussex Police said the force could not advise which areas of the city to avoid but it did anticipate disruption.
On Thursday, Ch Supt Graham Bartlett said without contact with the protesters, policing the event would be harder.
An anti-war protest in the city in 2010 led to a series of clashes between police and protesters Demonstrators have turned out in Brighton for a pre-May Day "street party and protest".
Under the banner Brighton Mayday collective, about 150 people have gathered in Ship Street, Sussex Police said. One person has been arrested.Before the event, officers had called on the organisers to come forward and speak to them.
A similar May Day protest in the city two years ago led to a series of clashes between police and protesters.
Sussex Police said one person had been arrested in connection with "serious disorder" during a demonstration in central London last month.
'Resist oppression' The protesters announced the location at 1130 BST of the start of the protest on social networking sites.
They first gathered near the West Pier on the seafront and made their way through Middle Street towards Ship Street.
In a press release, the organisers said the event brought together local groups including Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, Smash EDO, Squatter Networks of Brighton and Brighton Hunt Saboteurs.
It said May Day was a time to "stand up for workers' rights and resist oppression".
Sussex Police said the force could not advise which areas of the city to avoid but it did anticipate disruption.
On Thursday, Ch Supt Graham Bartlett said without contact with the protesters, policing the event would be harder.
Related Stories
Sudan: Tempers Flare As SPLM Opposition Discuss Draft Constitution
28 April 2011
"You opposition parties are known for boycotting such meeting. The other time, you walked out of the technical committee and it still went ahead with its work. Again you are bringing the same issue. Whoever is not comfortable is free to leave this meeting," an emotionally-charged Kiir reportedly told the meeting.
The opposition, sources told Sudan Tribune, were mainly opposed to the draft constitution's demands that a presidential election in South Sudan be held after four years from the time the country's independence is declared in July.
Previously, members of the opposition threatened to boycott the meeting on Thursday, which was called by Kiir, less than a week after the draft of the country's constitution was handed over to him by the technical committee that reviewed it.
Onyoti Nyikwech, leader of the opposition, said the boycott was justified given that most of the parties were "deliberately" left out of the review process after their walk out in protest over the south ruling party's alleged violation of rules of procedure.
Nyikwech, also a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - Democratic Change, a breakaway faction of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) described the draft constitution as a "one party document compiled to cater for the interests of SPLM members."
The technical committee, which was comprised of members of the SPLM, representatives from other political parties, civil society groups and the religious fraternity was initiated to transform the current interim law, into an independent state constitution, address gaps within the legal framework and provide a road map that will guide the new nation.
Reacting at the release of the draft constitution, John Luk Jok, the committee chairperson remarked, "We shall embark on a broad-based constitutional review process after the July independence declaration. This process will involve the active participation of all stakeholders including other political parties."
His remarks come almost a month after the review process suffered a serious setback, following a boycott from nine members of the 11 political parties on the technical committee. Those who withdrew accused the SPLM member violating the procedures that had been established for the review. The SPLM has 41 members on the committee.
"Rules of procedures were not changed at all during the process of reviewing the interim constitution. As members, we were all required to vote and come to consensus. What members of these political parties were alleging was not true," he added.
South Sudan is due to become independent after the population overwhelming chose separation in the region's self-determination referendum held in January. The vote was a key part of the Sudan's 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended over two decades of a bloody civil war between north and south.
Relevant Links
Magazine Editors Held Over Museveni Cartoon
Uganda:
Andrew Bagala
12 January 2011
Dr Samuel Ssejaaka, the magazine director, and the editor, Mr Mustapha Mugisha, were detained at the Central Police Station in Kampala for allegedly publishing a caricature of the President that embarrasses him on the magazine's cover page in October, 2010 issue and on billboards.
City Advocate James Nangwala, who is representing the duo, said yesterday the police are holding his clients without any charge or telling them the offences as required by law. "The detectives have refused to tell us on what charges they are holding my clients. But one document I have seen gives orders to the police to arrest and detain my clients," Mr Nangwala said at CPS.
When Daily Monitor contacted Kampala Metropolitan spokesman Ibin Ssenkumbi to establish the offence on which they are holding the suspects, he said: "I can't tell now because the detectives are still talking to the suspects."
Detectives handling the case moved back and forth between the Metropolitan Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Resident State Attorney offices to consult on the offences that should be preferred against the two suspects.
No more standing
Security agents also pulled down all the billboards which have the said cartoon. Detectives have also been looking for more than five people whom they claim worked on the design and hanging of the billboards.
It has become common for police to summon journalists, their managers and opposition politicians whenever they write critical stories about President Museveni. Several Monitor journalists are battling the State in courts of law over stories about President Museveni.
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