Moment to repair fractured coalition

Posted Wednesday, February 23 2011 at 19:11

Kenya was pulled back from a developing political crisis when President Kibaki heeded the voice of reason and withdrew his contested nominations to key constitutional offices.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had led opposition to the nominations, was magnanimous in hailing the President’s gesture.

This was an occasion where statesmanship triumphed over the politics of brinksmanship.

All the more reason, therefore, why this is a moment to be built on rather than one viewed as merely a temporary respite in an ongoing war between the coalition partners.

This is not the time to gloat, to proclaim victory, or to make snide and impolite remarks about the other side.

Neither must this be just a tactical retreat to allow time for restocking of ammunition.

This respite must be used to repair fractured relations and reaffirm a commitment to unity and partnership.

This should also be the time to examine closely what went wrong and design the processes and structures that will ensure better communication and management within the government.

In the first instance, the idle coalition management committee must be reactivated so that it can take its rightful role.

It will also be important that the presently very casual meetings between the President and the Prime Minister become more formal and structured, complete with minutes and all necessary records so that we don’t in future have competing versions of proceedings and the decisions taken.

Finally, it will be crucial that the weekly Cabinet meetings are brought back, not for the sake of gatherings, but as a means towards institutionalising more formal and structured governance systems.

It will help if the Cabinet plays a key role in making and implementing decisions so that everybody shares a stake and reads from the same script at all times.