Kibaki tell Annan go to hell. Odinga to sit on govt side in Parliament
AllAfrica: “If Kofi Annan is coming, he is not coming at our invitation,” roads and public works minister John Michuki, a hardline member of Kibaki’s new cabinet, told reporters in Nairobi.”We won the elections so we do not see the point for anyone coming to mediate power-sharing.”“It shows that all this is a charade,” ODM spokesman Salim Lone told The New Vision yesterday.”The same happened to (AU chairman) John Kufuor. Kibaki repeatedly said no mediation was needed, which delayed his coming for eight days, and a cabinet was announced just as he was landing.”
More trouble is expected as the Kenyan Parliament officially opens today. Neither ODM nor Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) managed to secure a majority in parliament, prompting a fight between both sides to woo smaller parties.Odinga has vowed that his party will sit down on the government’s side on the parliament benches.
Senior ODM official William Ruto denied that by attending the opening of parliament, convened by Kibaki, the opposition would be recognising the legitimacy of his presidency.
“We are not going to sit back and allow them install a speaker who will pave the way for the illegitimacy to continue,” he said.
“Kenyans should be warned that anyone participating or organising a rally will be held personally responsible and will have to face the law,” interior minister George Saitoti warned at a press conference yesterday.
