Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) and National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende at Parliament Buildings on March 25,2010. A US embassy cable dated April 27, 2009 says Mr Marende used US ambassador Michael Ranneberger, to ask Mr Annan to talk to both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga before he ruled on a dispute between the two on who should be leader of government business. Photo/FILE
By Nation ReporterPosted Thursday, March 3 2011 at 20:50
National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende sought the assistance of chief mediator Kofi Annan before ruling on a dispute over who was to be leader of government business in Parliament.
A US embassy cable dated April 27, 2009 says that Mr Marende used US ambassador Michael Ranneberger, to ask Mr Annan to talk to both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga before he ruled on a dispute between the two on who should be leader of government business.
Mr Marende wanted the chief mediator to ask the two principals to respect his ruling on the issue. President Kibaki had nominated VP Kalonzo Musyoka, but Mr Odinga wrote to the Speaker nominating himself to the post.
“I met with Speaker of Parliament Marende on April 27 and he said that he will likely make a ruling that will not take the side of either party,” Mr Ranneberger said.
Before he sought assistance from Mr Annan, the Speaker had attempted to arrange a tripartite meeting with President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.
Mr Marende had told the US envoy that he intended to constitute the parliamentary business committee and let MPs elect its head — possibly the Speaker himself.
“This will keep Parliament functioning while giving the two sides more time to work out the issue of who will be leader of government business,” the envoy said.
The US ambassador said he spoke to Mr Annan who later asked the two principals to accept the Speaker’s ruling.
He said although Mr Annan blamed both sides for provoking the crisis, he commented:
“ODM is not wrong to think that in some cases they have been short-changed.”
Mr Ranneberger also revealed how he and other envoys were going to support the Speaker’s ruling.
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