Ministers’ row a shame

The ugly row between two Cabinet ministers over some resort concessions in the Mara again serves to highlight the constant infighting in the Cabinet.

Our concern at the moment is not about who is in the right and who is in the wrong between Tourism minister Najib Balala and National Heritage minister William ole Ntimama.

It is that the overriding principle of collective responsibility and the other strictures spelt out in the ministerial code of conduct, with the express purpose of displaying a united Cabinet pulling in one direction, are consistently being flouted.

The code of conduct makes it clear that ministers must speak in one voice, and must not publicly voice dissent against government decisions.

The code also spells out the way in which ministers may raise issues on a matters involving a different ministry, defines how issues cutting across more than one ministry may be handled, and even spells out how issues of jurisdictional disputes will be addressed.

It also mandates how ministers must subjugate their constituency and other political interests to the roles as members of the Cabinet. All these strictures are being constantly ignored.

It was never going to be easy to enforce rigid discipline in the kind of coalition government presently in place, but it is instructive that the spat between Mr Balala and Mr Ntimama is not grounded on any differences between coalition partners.

Both are in the ODM wing. And neither are they arguing about matters of principle, programme or policy. Theirs is more about jurisdiction and getting embroiled in corporate tussles and petty political wars.

The two ministers are embarrassing the Government If they insist on throwing public tantrums, then they should be politely advised to sort out their differences from outside the Cabinet.