G7 boost in cabinet reshuffle

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday reshuffled their Cabinet in the Grand Coalition Government.

President Kibaki moved several ministers while Mr Odinga replaced one minister on his side of the coalition.

Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa (Party of National Unity) was appointed the new Justice Minister while Najib Balala (Mvita, Orange Democratic Movement) was sacked. Moses Wetangula (Sirisia, Ford Kenya) was moved from Foreign Affairs to Trade.

Sam Ongeri has been moved to the Foreign Affairs docket, outspoken Mutula Kilonzo appointed to the Education ministry, while Voi MP Danson Mwazo joins the Cabinet as Minister for Tourism.

The changes take effect immediately.

Njeru Githae has been confirmed as the Finance Minister, a position he has been holding on an acting capacity after Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta stepped aside when charges against him at the International Criminal Court were confirmed.

Mr Chirau Makwere was moved to Ministry of Environment and Jamleck Kamau appointed as the Minister of Nairobi Metropolitan.

The reshuffle is seen as a big boost to the G7 grouping, who will now have their ally Wamalwa in charge of government's response to cases against four Kenyan suspects at the ICC.

Mr Odinga, on the other hand, has used the reshuffle to get rid of Mr Balala and replace him with Mr Mwazo.

The reshuffle was announced in a statement by the Presidential Press Service.