We're friends, say Kalonzo and Mutula

By BOB ODALO bodalo@ke.nationmedia.com AND VPPS

Posted Saturday, February 5 2011 at 20:45

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo on Saturday buried their differences a fortnight after the latter accused the VP of scheming to have him sacked from the Cabinet.

At the same time, the VP expressed confidence that the row over nomination of officials to four crucial judicial and finance offices would be resolved amicably.

Mr Musyoka, who is also the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, said Kenyans would overcome any challenges as long as they worked together and acted in good faith.

Mr Kilonzo hosted the VP in his Mbooni constituency in what appeared to be a fence-mending mission between the two.

Mr Musyoka spent the better part of the day in Mr Kilonzo’s backyard and made several stops on the way to Tawa market where he was scheduled to lead a fund-raising meeting to buy land to put up administrative offices in the district.

“The Justice minister and I are lawyers. We can give different interpretations on weighty issues which is normal and all this hullaballoo about me fighting Mutula has no place in our cordial relationship,” Mr Musyoka said.

Mr Kilonzo said: “We have had differences of opinion but that does not mean that we are enemies. We may differ but we are not at war. The VP is my friend and the reality is that we meet almost daily for a cup of tea.”

Mr Kilonzo has opposed attempts by a section of the coalition government to lobby the African Union to withdraw from the Rome Statute and to have the Kenyan case deferred.

He had also said pressure was being put on him to resign and that the VP was among those who wanted him sacked.

He had turned the heat on Mr Musyoka saying there was no place they had agreed that he would be the VP’s sycophant.