Ministers to push for deal at Naivasha retreat

• Kibaki and Raila told Cabinet team in PSC to go for nothing less than a compromise

Coalition partners ODM and PNU appear to have agreed to resolve contentious issues ahead of Sunday’s retreat of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the constitution.

Contrary to earlier reports that the Cabinet’s grand coalition management committee failed to reach an agreement on Thursday, sources indicate that the discussion was “cordial.”

Multiple sources have told the Sunday Nation that those who attended that meeting were ordered not to reveal details of the discussions.

But the Sunday Nation has learnt that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga told the PSC members in the Cabinet committee that they expected nothing short of consensus on the draft from the Naivasha retreat.

Indications are that the politicians may agree to a hybrid system with the president as head of state and government and the prime minister as the coordinator of ministries and leader of government business in the House.

After the Thursday meeting, Mr Odinga told a media briefing that substantial progress on some of the major sticking points had been made, “but finer details will be sorted out by the PSC” at the Naivasha retreat.

However, a meeting Friday to consolidate this new stand could not take place because some of the committee members were in the Mau Forest for the tree-planting ceremony led by Mr Odinga.

The President and PM are said to have moved away from their individual party positions.

Mr Odinga is reported to have indicated that he does not mind any of the systems as long as they are designed to unite the country.

Devolution system

The PM also indicated that there should be a proper devolution system. The President, on the other hand, is reported to have said that the negotiators could not wish away the fact that Kenyans want to directly elect their chief executive and are also in favour of a prime minister.

“The President said it should not be lost to the committee that Kenyans are not in favour of a pure presidential system. He also said that, in that case, the country was in need of a prime minister,” one of the sources indicated.

This was interpreted to mean that a hybrid system with clear structures was necessary, especially in light of the current coalition arrangement which is perceived to have produced more hiccups than successes in its two years.

Another source who attended the meeting said it was Water minister Charity Ngilu who kicked off the discussion stressing the need to reach consensus.

The minister is reported to have said that the President has the responsibility to ensure that the review process is successful and was in the best position to do so since he would not run for president after his term ends in 2012.