Saturday, February 9, 2013

Top seat runners to have a taste of Kibaki’s powers


Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia, who is the chair of government team on transition, said all the candidates would start getting selected security briefs by the Kenya Police Force and the National Intelligence Service on national interests and threats. Photo/FILE
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com  ( email the author)

Posted  Saturday, February 9  2013 at  00:30
In Summary
  • National Intelligence Service and Kenya Police to issue information to the eight candidates on national interests, threats
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Police and other security agencies will brief presidential candidates on national issues in the countdown to the Kibaki succession.
The eight candidates intensified campaigns in different parts of the country on Friday.
The campaigns were, however, spiced by growing cautions by foreign diplomats of undefined “consequences” if Kenyans vote in Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto who are facing charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan said campaigns would start officially tomorrow and stop 24 hours to the polling day— March 2.
On Friday, Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia, who is the chair of government team on transition, said all the candidates would start getting selected security briefs by the Kenya Police Force and the National Intelligence Service on national interests and threats.
His team will also discuss with the candidates their likely timetable for the first 50 days in State House, their choice of presidential standard, and their preferred guest list and programme of inauguration day.
The candidates will also be given an opportunity to state their preferred briefing report methods after being declared and gazetted winner.
Mr Kimemia said presidential candidates who include Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Musalia Mudavadi, Ms Martha Karua, Prof James ole Kiyiapi and Mr Peter Kenneth as well as Mr Paul Muite and Mr Mohammed Dida, will also be briefed on the indicative functions of their deputies and location of their offices.
The Constitution is silent on the function of the Deputy President. It only indicates that the individual may be assigned to do specific duties by his boss.
“An idle deputy president is a risky source of conflict and wasteful utilisation of resources especially since he or she cannot head a State department. Perhaps he could be assigned the duty of the premier. May be,” said Mr Kimemia.
He also revealed that owing to the expected large turnout from within and beyond Kenya, they were considering the possibility of shifting the inauguration to Kasarani stadium.
Police Inspector-General David Kimaiyo said all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure there will be no security lapses in the country during elections.
On the campaign trail, Mr Odinga held a rally at Hola stadium in Tana River, where urged voters to elect the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, saying it was best placed to implement the Constitution.
“I especially want to urge our supporters to turn up in large numbers to vote for us , because failure to vote is a vote for our competitors,” he said.
He decried the rising insecurity in the county, saying there was need to urgently address the causes of the perennial clashes between different communities living in the area.
He said there was need to establish boundaries between the communities as one way of improving security in the area.
In Elgeyo Marakwet County, Mr Kenyatta defended his record in public service, stating that contrary to what their opponents were saying about implementation the Constitution, they were  champions of  devolution.
“My track record in devolution speaks for itself and if you can remember when I was the minister for Finance I introduced economic stimulus programmes which saw more funds devolved to constituency level and we  hired nurses and teachers at the grassroots,” he said.
He expressed concerns over the decision by IEBC to reduce the number of streams per polling stations, claiming it would deny voters an opportunity to choose their leaders.
Mr Kenyatta, who was accompanied by his running mate, Mr William Ruto, held rallies at Tot, Kapsowar, Iten and Chepkorio and Ainabokoi.
In Mombasa and Kwale, Mr Mudavadi of the Amani coalition pledged to prioritise the land issue in Coast region once he is elected President.
He said land was a critical factor of production which cannot be ignored during this time of election.
“We cannot disregard land issue in our campaigns as long we do not attack any one. As politicians we should address the issue in a sober way,” he said.
The French Government last evening said it retains the EU stand on the consequences of the Jubilee alliance taking over the country’s leadership. “Our position is that we only have essential contact with somebody who is indicted by the ICC,” French ambassador Mr Etienne de Poncins said in Kisumu.

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