Ondernemende ontwikkelingssamenwerking

Odinga intimated that holding another election was not the solution to the current cabinet impasse, adding that it would further derail the implementation of the National Accord that calls for a grand coalition.

Saying that the country was not ready for polls, the ODM leader criticized those calling for a fresh election and instead urged them to engage in peace building. "We don’t see a fresh election as the solution because of the situation prevailing in the country and the status of the Electoral Commission of Kenya," said Odinga. Odinga’s sentiments come in the wake of international pressure piling up for both him and President Kibaki to constitute a new cabinet. The grand coalition cabinet talks have since stagnated following horse-trading between party members affiliated to both Kibaki and Odinga’s parties.
Two thorny issues surround the cabinet deadlock. One is the cabinet portfolio and civil service positions. While the government side wants to retain the civil service portfolios, the opposition, on the other hand want to have a share in the same. Both ODM and PNU have proposed a lean cabinet of 20 ministers. Odinga adds that even a leaner cabinet of 15 members would be an option for ODM. Majority of those calling for fresh election are ODM die-hards. They have pressured Kibaki for days on end arguing that only a fresh election would solve the anomaly of cabinet delay. Odinga however disagrees with his supporters over a fresh poll, saying that the exercise would lag Kenyans behind.

Odinga told journalists, Friday that he was willing to negotiate further with President Kibaki and help unlock the cabinet crisis. Meanwhile calm has returned in the volatile areas of Kibera slums and parts of Kisumu town following two days of unrest over cabinet impasse.