Kibaki leads Cabinet to coastal retreat

BY JUDIE KABERIA

1/1 NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 11- President Mwai Kibaki is on Thursday afternoon expected to leave for Ukunda, in the South Coast to attend a two-day retreat for Ministers and Assistants Ministers. According to the Presidential Press Service, the meeting is intended to discuss the implementation of the Constitution with an aim of developing a common understanding and approach in the process. President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka are expected to address the Ministers during the retreat that opens on Friday morning. The chairman of the now-defunct Committee of Experts on Constitution Review Nzamba Kitonga will lead a discussion on the implementation of the new Constitution and highlight the opportunities and challenges of the new law. The Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende is also scheduled to deliver an address on Friday afternoon highlighting the procedure and process of accountability of ministers and accounting officers to Parliament. US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger is also scheduled to talk about accountability of Cabinet Secretaries (new title for Ministers) to Parliament and share the American experience, while German Ambassador Margit Hellwig-Boette will discuss the implications of the organisation of national and devolved governments based on her German experience. The stamen from the Presidential Press Service (PPS) adds: “Other speakers will include Dr Victor Koh who will take the Cabinet members through enforcement of ethics and integrity in the public service basing it on Singapore experience.” Dr Moses Ikiara of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) will give a presentation on Economic Development Opportunities offered by the new Constitution. President Kibaki was chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House Nairobi on Thursday morning ahead of the retreat. The talks however come at a time when the Cabinet is reeling from corruption allegations that have seen two Ministers vacate office while another is engaged in a spat with her former assistant over graft allegations at the Water Ministry. More graft allegations still plague several sitting ministers with calls mounting for them to resign pending the outcome of investigations against them.

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