Politics
Cabinet retreat starts amid MPs’ protests
President Mwai Kibaki flanked by the Cabinet at State House Nairobi. PHOTO/ FILE
Posted Wednesday, November 11 2009 at 22:00
Several ministers arrived in Mombasa on Wednesday ahead of a three-day Cabinet retreat which starts Thursday.
However, MPs questioned the need for the meeting and challenged the Office of the President to explain its benefits and costs to the taxpayer.
Ministers and their assistants will attend the retreat at Serena Beach Hotel and Spa that seeks to unite the Cabinet under the theme “One government, One voice.”
Deputy Prime Ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta and ministers Amason Jeffa Kingi and Moses Wetang’ula who were the first to arrive were holed up in closed-door meetings.
The retreat, according to the Presidential Press Service, is to enhance unity and cohesion in the Coalition and will be jointly addressed by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Breakdown of costs
It also seek to bring to an end the bickering, public criticism and divisions in the Cabinet since it was established in April last year. The fate of the victims of post-election violence and the new constitution will also be discussed.
To achieve the goal, they have invited experts who include Canadians Bob Rae, Prof Greg Marchildon and Giles Gherson as wells as Prof Prahlad Basu from India and Irishman Tom Dowing.
In Parliament, Garsen MP Danson Mungatana demanded the breakdown of the costs of the trip for the team of 96 ministers and their assistants.
He sought to know when money for the trip was budgeted for and approved by Parliament. “I do not remember passing a vote for bonding and relaxation of ministers and their assistants,” he said.
Assistant minister for Internal Security Orwa Ojodeh undertook to respond to Mr Mungatana’s question next Thursday.
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Submitted by MishukiPosted November 22, 2009 03:45 PM
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Submitted by babytatya
Yeah they should totally be frugal in order for the country to come up. We can only speculate how much of tax payers money is being spent at Serena beach hotel and spa. This is why African states will always remain in the third world. I am totally proud to be Kenyan, not because of the top people but because of the simple mwananchi who despite all these persecutions, still wakes up each morning to make more shillings for demented leaders.
Posted November 19, 2009 12:33 PM -
Submitted by joemuirurithige
these are the leaders we elected and we must support them through their term in office, let's be proud of our leaders for once, proud, boastful and arrogant as they are, we elected them so, let's be proud that our country is not in anachy.
Posted November 17, 2009 06:20 PM -
Submitted by nadungenkop
All these guys are doing is to consume tax payers money. They are going to enjoy themselves while evicting people from their homes? when will kenyan politicians make wise decisions? Thanks Mungatana for asking a question about this retreat although as usual, nothing will be changed. Kenya is known of that.
Posted November 16, 2009 11:13 PM -
Submitted by mentalmapping254
This substantiates the lack of ineptness from the Government. How can the president sign off on such issues that involves tax payers money without a vote in parliament. Isn't there a bill that can call for impeachment? Besides, constitution reforms, punishment of post-election violence perpetrators which include ministers, the vice and the president himself(first hand information)and relocation of the post election violence victims, such talks can be carried out by the heads of various departments that are affected by the issue,via video-conference and the money can be used to feed the hungry citizens.
Posted November 16, 2009 05:12 PM
RSS
what cabinet meeting????they cant implemet anything tangible..they are abunch of bickering people who do not have the common mwananchi at heart.