Some of the people to watch this year

Mr Raila Odinga

The Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition Government, Mr Odinga has his foot on the peddle of reforms that the current administration has to implement.

Although the official protocol is yet to define the level of Mr Odinga’s position in Government, the National Accord places him at a parallel level with President Kibaki.

And in making decisions and appointments on matters that were classified under Agenda No 4 in the National Accord, the President is required to consult the PM.

This means that Mr Odinga will play a defining role in constitutional review, the electoral reforms, the setting up of the Special Tribunal for Kenya, and the performance of the Government and the economy.

He worked closely with the President to push MPs to pass the Bill that dissolved the Electoral Commission of Kenya and replaced it with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) in addition to providing for the replacement of the current Constitution.

The PM will also sit with the President to pick the members of the committee of experts on the review process, the members of the IIEC, the chairman of the Trial and Appeal chambers of the Special Tribunal, and members of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. His word will carry weight in the process of healing post-election wounds and reconciling the nation.

Mr Odinga is also in the driving seat of delivery of services to the public given that his docket involves supervision of ministries.
More important is the political role he will play as ODM leader who is expected to seek the Presidency in 2012.

Bernard Namunane

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Ms Martha Karua

As Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua holds the unenviable position at the heart of the Grand Coalition Government.

The rationale for the formation of the Grand Coalition was to provide for a period during which reforms would be enacted to avoid the country sliding back into the abyss.

Ms Karua presides over the implementation of the reforms that were outlined in the National Accord, among them a new constitution.

Just before Parliament went on recess, the Justice minister faced the first task of pushing through a Bill that dissolved the ECK.

The ministry will determine the pace of the review; it has already worked on the time-table for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Kenya; and implementation of reports of commissions set up after the post-poll violence.

Bringing to justice suspects of post-election violence will be determined by the decisions Ms Karua makes.

Bernard Namunane