PRESIDENT Kibaki insisted that the coalition partnership was working well when he received a delegation of American officials in Nairobi in 2009, according to a newly released Wikileaks cable.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson, National Security Council Africa director Michelle Gavin and ambassador Michael Ranneberger met President Kibaki along with Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, Public Service chief Francis Muthaura, Attorney General Amos Wako, Internal Security minister George Saitoti and other top officials on May 12, 2009.
Carson said that "his visit was meant to underscore the enormous friendship and long-standing partnership between the United States in Kenya".
He pointed out that this was his first overseas trip and that the American embassy in Nairobi was the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Carson said that his visit was "meant to emphasise concern in Washington that the coalition government is pulling apart rather than coming together and that this threatens implementation of the reform agenda and renewed instability."
Gavin said that, before leaving Washington, she had met President Obama who was "deeply concerned" and believed that Kenya's "political gridlock threatens stability and implementation of the reform agenda."
However President Kibaki strongly defended the coalition government's performance.
The cable quotes him as saying, "I have a different picture; the picture I have is we (the coalition partners) are getting close together".
"He denied that Kenya was returning to crisis and he did not see why people think the grand coalition government is pulling apart. The grand coalition government is moving forward to solve Kenya's problems. He supposed that the problem may be caused by the large amount of political noise surrounding certain issues".
"Responding to an argument made by Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura that political gridlock is a result of Kibaki's party not agreeing with ODM's position on appointments and the nature of power-sharing, the Assistant Secretary stated that in a tense environment such as Kenya, it is important that the coalition partners continually seek dialogue and reconciliation, and pursue accommodation to reduce tensions".
The ministers present explained the achievements of the coalition government including the formation of a police reform commission, the appointment of an interim electoral commission, the upcoming appointment of an interim boundaries commission, and "removing financial constraints" on the Committee of Experts.
Justice minister Kilonzo echoed Muthaura when he "agreed that progress on the reform agenda has been slower than anticipated, but argued that progress is being made. He argued that any perceived delay in pursuing the reform agenda is due to debate and disagreements that are inherent in Kenya's democratic system."
Carson responded that "process, while important, is no substitute for progress" and "warned that the Kenyan public is becoming increasingly impatient with the perception that the government is going slow in implementation."
In the meeting Kibaki and the ministers all asked the US for increased financial support but Carson "made clear that the US will help, but only as part of progress towards full implementation of the reform agenda".
"Carson also stressed the need for full and equal power-sharing within the coalition," the cable states.
"Carson told Kibaki that the 'assassination' of two prominent human rights activists (from Oscar Foundation) had shaken Washington. The subsequent lack of arrests has cast an enormous shadow over the police and the justice system," states the cable.
Concluding the meeting, "President Kibaki stated that 'if these guys (the ministers present)' say they will undertake reforms, they will do it and will do things with an eye towards implementation, not just process. We are going to act."
Kibaki then appealed to Carson for financial assistance to "do the things that must be done".
"Kibaki re-emphasised his view that the coalition government is functioning well and thanked Carson for his visit."
END
US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson, National Security Council Africa director Michelle Gavin and ambassador Michael Ranneberger met President Kibaki along with Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, Public Service chief Francis Muthaura, Attorney General Amos Wako, Internal Security minister George Saitoti and other top officials on May 12, 2009.
Carson said that "his visit was meant to underscore the enormous friendship and long-standing partnership between the United States in Kenya".
He pointed out that this was his first overseas trip and that the American embassy in Nairobi was the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Carson said that his visit was "meant to emphasise concern in Washington that the coalition government is pulling apart rather than coming together and that this threatens implementation of the reform agenda and renewed instability."
Gavin said that, before leaving Washington, she had met President Obama who was "deeply concerned" and believed that Kenya's "political gridlock threatens stability and implementation of the reform agenda."
However President Kibaki strongly defended the coalition government's performance.
The cable quotes him as saying, "I have a different picture; the picture I have is we (the coalition partners) are getting close together".
"He denied that Kenya was returning to crisis and he did not see why people think the grand coalition government is pulling apart. The grand coalition government is moving forward to solve Kenya's problems. He supposed that the problem may be caused by the large amount of political noise surrounding certain issues".
"Responding to an argument made by Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura that political gridlock is a result of Kibaki's party not agreeing with ODM's position on appointments and the nature of power-sharing, the Assistant Secretary stated that in a tense environment such as Kenya, it is important that the coalition partners continually seek dialogue and reconciliation, and pursue accommodation to reduce tensions".
The ministers present explained the achievements of the coalition government including the formation of a police reform commission, the appointment of an interim electoral commission, the upcoming appointment of an interim boundaries commission, and "removing financial constraints" on the Committee of Experts.
Justice minister Kilonzo echoed Muthaura when he "agreed that progress on the reform agenda has been slower than anticipated, but argued that progress is being made. He argued that any perceived delay in pursuing the reform agenda is due to debate and disagreements that are inherent in Kenya's democratic system."
Carson responded that "process, while important, is no substitute for progress" and "warned that the Kenyan public is becoming increasingly impatient with the perception that the government is going slow in implementation."
In the meeting Kibaki and the ministers all asked the US for increased financial support but Carson "made clear that the US will help, but only as part of progress towards full implementation of the reform agenda".
"Carson also stressed the need for full and equal power-sharing within the coalition," the cable states.
"Carson told Kibaki that the 'assassination' of two prominent human rights activists (from Oscar Foundation) had shaken Washington. The subsequent lack of arrests has cast an enormous shadow over the police and the justice system," states the cable.
Concluding the meeting, "President Kibaki stated that 'if these guys (the ministers present)' say they will undertake reforms, they will do it and will do things with an eye towards implementation, not just process. We are going to act."
Kibaki then appealed to Carson for financial assistance to "do the things that must be done".
"Kibaki re-emphasised his view that the coalition government is functioning well and thanked Carson for his visit."
END
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