Kenyan Cabinet Heads For Retreat
President and Prime Minister Join Cabinet In Mombasa
The three day bonding session included 44 cabinet ministers and 52 assistant ministers. The cabinet which is made up of coalition allies from the Party of National Unity, led by President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga was in Mombasa to discuss matters appertaining to government.
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation in its website Nov. 12, 2009 reports that the retreat was meant to discuss differences over the devolution of power ahead of the publication of the draft legislation and trial of post-election violence suspects among other things.
The retreat also included around 150 support staff according to the Mars Group. The ministers will stay at the Serena Beach Hotel where the daily full board rate for an executive suite is Sh18,500 and Sh8,500 for a deluxe suite.
Parliamentarians Angered By Retreat
At the same time, Members of Parliament have questioned the reasons for such a retreat and want the Office of the President to give a breakdown of the cost and also give the rationale of such an expense on tax payers.
According to the Mars Group in the Nov. 12, 2009 article titled "Cabinet Retreat Starts Amid MPs' Protests," Danson Mungatana, the Member of Parliament for Garsen asked on the floor of the House for an explanation and a breakdown of the cost.
“I do not remember passing a vote for bonding and relaxation of ministers and their assistants,” said Mungatana.
The retreat comes in the wake of legislators absconding parliamentary sessions to discuss a crucial Bill brought by Gitobu Imanyara over post election violence perpetrators. The Bill is meant to ensure the post election violence perpetrators stand trial in a special tribunal.
Squabbling In Cabinet
The bonding session is meant to iron out among other things the unity of the government which has been phantom until now. Ministers have publicly disagreed and criticized each other raising questions whether the government would colapse over the wrangles.
The Star newspaper Nov. 14, 2009 reports Prime Minister Odinga told off Cabinet Ministers for their failure to abide by the principle of collective responsibility. Mr. Odinga raised issue with how some ministers were publicly criticizing policies that they themselves were party to.
Ministers have been known to publicly criticize the President and Prime Minister for their failure to get their house in order. Ministers have also publicly differed with their assistants over issues dealing with their respective ministries.
During the bonding session at the Serena Hotel, civil rights organizations armed with a memorandum demanded an audience with the President and the Prime Minister. The activists were demanding to air their grievances to the two over wasting of public resources and other issues plaguing the country
A Cabinet Meeting At State House Nairobi
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