PM calls for ceasefire in coalition government

Written By:PMPS , Posted: Wed, Aug 11, 2010


Prime Minister Raila Odinga now wants a complete end to supremacy wars between the parties in the ruling coalition as the country embarks on implementing the new constitution endorsed last week.

Odinga said Wednesday that huge sections of the new constitution could be implemented ahead of envisaged deadlines if the leaders and their supporters join hands.

"There are specified timelines in the implementation constitution. But we are likely to stay ahead of all those deadlines if we carry on with the spirit seen during the campaign," the PM said.

The PM was speaking during a meeting with US ambassador to Kenya Mr Michael Ranneberger at his Karen residence.

This was the first meeting between the PM and the ambassador since the proposed constitution was endorsed on August 4.

He called on Kenyans to rally behind the new constitution regardless of how they voted and appealed to the international community to help the country in its implementation.

Odinga singled out drafting of new laws to anchor the new constitution as one area where the government was likely to require additional expertise and technical support.

"The work of reconstructing this country has to begin now and it will require a bipartisan approach. We will not rebuild or accomplish anything if we face the future as ODM or PNU," the PM said.

He said the government was giving equal priority to implementation of the provisions of the new constitution and creating harmony in the country.

Describing the passage of the new constitution as a milestone for the Grand Coalition, Odinga said he and the President have agreed to prioritise creation of harmony in the country and they would tour parts of the country to explain to the residents the virtues of the new constitution and create confidence in the document.

"We will reach out to all Kenyans and explain provisions of the new constitution whose significance may have been lost in the campaign. We want to reassure Kenyans that no harm will come their way just because of this new constitution," he said.

He said the virtues of the smaller units provided for in the new constitution was among issues that were not properly understood in parts of the country during the campaign.

"We need to explain why the units we have created in the new constitution will make lives better for our people than the large administrative units like provinces we have today," he said.

Mr Ranneberger said he had visited the PM to get a sense of the government's plans after the passage of the constitution.

He congratulated President Kibaki and the Prime Minister for successfully campaigning for the new constitution and resolving the impasse over the leader of government business in Parliament.

"Things look great and positive for Kenya. I want to appeal to you Mr Prime Minister not to lose the momentum," the ambassador said.