Team meets to decide fate of party officials in Cabinet

President Kibaki chairs a past cabinet meeting. The ministers are to discuss the implications of Article 77(2) of the new Constitution which bars State officers from holding positions in political parties before advising the larger Cabinet of its implications. Photo/FILE

By PETER LEFTIE
Posted Wednesday, August 25 2010 at 22:33

The fate of ministers and MPs holding positions in political parties will be discussed on Thursday at a meeting of a powerful Cabinet team coordinating the implementation of the new Constitution.

A source in the Cabinet said the team comprising nine ministers will also discuss the provisions barring tainted individuals from holding public offices.

The nine ministers who are all lawyers will discuss the implications of Article 77(2) of the new Constitution which bars State officers from holding positions in political parties before advising the larger Cabinet of its implications.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of pressure on President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and all ministers and MPs to cease holding positions in their political parties after taking their fresh oaths because their positions are classified as State offices.

The President, the PM, the VP, Cabinet ministers and their assistants are scheduled to take their oaths on Friday afternoon while MPs will take theirs during a special session of Parliament on Saturday.

The nine ministers to attend Thursday’s meeting include Mr Musyoka, Mr James Orengo, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Mr Moses Wetang’ula, Mr Otieno Kajwang’, Mr Amason Kingi, Mr Njeru Githae and Attorney General Amos Wako.

Nine-member team

The source said other members of the Cabinet outside the nine-member team are also free to attend the meeting which will also discuss two Bills crucial to the implementation of the new Constitution.

One of the Bills, the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill 2010 seeks to create the tribunal which will vet members of the Judiciary to determine their fitness to continue holding offices.

The other is the Judicial Service Commission Bill to create an independent Judicial Service Commission. “These two are so important (to the implementation of the new Constitution) that they cannot wait until the formation of the Commission on Implementation,” said the source.

The debate on whether serving members of the Cabinet, including the President and the PM and MPs should continue holding positions in political parties came about at a meeting of a parliamentary committee in Mombasa last weekend.

Former Siakago MP Justin Muturi argued that the new Constitution barred State officers including the President, the PM, ministers and MPs from holding positions in political parties.

The calls have drawn support from Ford Kenya leader Musikari Kombo, Lands assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli, Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat and PNU spokesman Moses Kuria.