VP calls for calm over President’s nominees

By VPPS

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka says the discord over nominations by President Kibaki to key constitutional offices should not cause anxiety.

Addressing Kenyans living in Lagos, Nigeria, Kalonzo claimed there were consultations before the nominations were announced. He said in grand coalitions, partners were bound to differ on key issues.

"In coalition governments, differences of opinion constantly emerge, but partners always end up resolving sticky issues," he said.

The Vice-President said whereas consultations will continue to take place between the principals, the next stage for approval of the nominees would be Parliament.

Parliament may approve the nominees or ask the President for other names. Kalonzo said Kenyans should focus attention on implementation of the Constitution.

He said matters likely to delay the process should be kept at bay. Kalonzo said the reform agenda should not be lost.

Set deadline

He said the President acted in good faith because the deadline for appointing the Chief Justice was fast approaching, and considering "the names still needed to be approved by Parliament then the President in consultation with the Prime Minister needed to move fast".

On seeking support from the African Union to lobby the UN Security Council to defer the ICC cases, Kalonzo said the move was intended to achieve delivery of justice hand in hand with national healing, reconciliation and integration.

On bilateral issues, the Vice-President said the Nigerian government had now allowed Kenyans to get visas at point of entry into the populous West African country.