Lucas Barasa
9 October 2008
Nairobi — The fate of the Electoral Commission could be determined on Tuesday when the Cabinet meets to discuss the Kriegler report.
The report by the Independent Review Commission chaired by retired South African judge Johann Kriegler is said to be high on the agenda.It has already been discussed and approved by the Cabinet sub-committee on legal affairs.A government source confirmed that the President was to chair the meeting at State House Thursday, but it was moved to Tuesday due to absence of a number of ministers who are away on official duty.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected from France today, while acting Finance minister John Michuki is attending a conference at the Caribbean.
Information minister Samuel Poghisio flew into Nairobi yesterday from Japan.
The Cabinet normally meets on Thursdays, but last week, it did not sit as the President was the chief guest at the opening of the Nairobi International Trade Fair.
When he received the Kriegler report last month, President Kibaki said it would be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. He pledged that it would be fully implemented.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula said a Cabinet sub-committee had approved the report, and it will now be taken to full Cabinet.
The Cabinet is divided over the report especially on the disbandment of the Electoral Commission.
Overhaul
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is leading a group calling for an overhaul of ECK and immediate resignation of its commissioners. On the other hand, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Justice minister Martha Karua have strongly defended ECK and its officials.
Electoral reforms form a key component of the agreement signed by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga in February.
Other issues likely to feature at the Cabinet meeting are the spiralling oil, electricity and food prices and inflation.
The Cabinet is also expected to discuss the hijacked ship held off Somalia's coast with military weapons.
The state of persons who were displaced following post-election violence, and who are still in camps, is also likely to feature at the meeting.
Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Read comments. Write your own.
