Raila: No bad relations between MPs and Executive

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said there is no strained relations between the Executive and Parliament.

Addressing an impromptu news conference on the sidelines of the ministerial retreat on the new Constitution at Leisure Lodge in Diani late Friday, Mr Odinga said there was progress on efforts to maintain cordial relations between the two arms of government.

He was speaking after the chairpersons and deputies of various House departmental committees reacted angrily at their exclusion from an earlier session.

"Indeed the retreat was organised after consultations between the executive and the legislature with the aim of further improving the working relationship between them," Mr Odinga said.

"We have indeed had lovely discussions so far and we shall come up with recommendations to the further improve our working relations."

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende down-played the move to lock out the MPs from the cabinet session.

He said every meeting convened by Parliament does not get 100 percent attendance.

The Speaker termed the relationship between executive and legislature as cordial, productive and focused in terms of implementing the new Constitution.

He added that Parliament, which has had a frosty relationship with the Executive over fight against graft, is committed to eradicate the vice.

The leaders said the meeting was going on well and would result in a smooth relationship between the two organs.

The PM further denied that there was pressure for him to order ministers implicated in corruption to step aside.

He said the assistant ministers only complained that some ministers do not "give them space they deserve nor respect them".

Some assistant ministers also complained of only being given roles to answer questions in Parliament.