Corridors of Power

Thursday, 24 February 2011 00:01 BY POLITICAL DESK

The differences between the coalition partners seemed to play themselves out on the international stage recently. There was confusion during the ongoing meeting of the  Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York after the Kenyan delegation that comprised among others Ida Odinga and Gender minister Naomi Shaban failed to agree on who was to read the official government statement. Ida reportedly insisted she should reach the speech while Shabaan said she was the substantive minister, was a government official and it was therefore against protocol for Ida as the Prime Minister's wife to read the statement. delegates attending the conference which has been organised were amazed by the altercation. The UN officials intervened and resolved that Ida could present her present while Shaban was alloted another day to read her statement. Both of the statements are supposed to present the government's position on the status of women in Kenya.
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Word out is that there are some powerful individuals who have been trying to gain access to some critical files and documents relating to the major scandals which are being held at the Attorney General's office. The idea is to tamper or destroy the evidence which may link the individuals with such scandals like Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing before a new person takes over as the country's AG. The individuals have gone as far as asking the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to suppress or 'make disappear' some of the evidence considered crucial if they were ever to be prosecuted.
            ***************************************** A senior official in Parliament did not want to leave anything to chance after PNU and ODM MPs allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto prepared to table a motion to overturn Speaker Kenneth Marende's ruling on the nominations row. The official was seriously lobbying MPs to vote against the motion and was breathed a sigh of relief when he learnt that the motion was not going to be tabled.
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Reports are emerging that some members of the two parliamentary committees inquiring whether the President acted constitutionally when nominating the constitutional office bearers were paid to take certain positions. The going price, according to those who know, was Sh1 million!