Kibaki, Raila Seek Donor Aid

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga have appealed to donors for 31.5 billion shillings to reconstruct parts of the country. 

The appeal was made during a meeting with Ambassadors and High Commissioners from donor nations. 

The money, they hope, will be used for national reconciliation, security and peace building. Part of it will also be used for resettlement of internally displaced people, creation of jobs for the youth and slum upgrading, among others. 

President Kibaki announced that the Government had re-allocated 1.25 billion  shillings from the current budget for that purpose. 

According to the government, “we believe we now have a credible and feasible National Reconciliation and Emergency Recovery Strategy Paper that is ready to be shared with our development partners. This paper outlines the priorities as we see them, the means to achieving these priorities in the immediate period until the end of June and the projected cost.” 

President Kibaki and Mr Odinga later met to discuss the expanded Cabinet to be formed when Parliament formalises the new Government structure. Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, who chaired talks to restore peace in the country, prescribed a 50/50 sharing of posts between the Government and ODM.

President Kibaki is expected to name the Cabinet soon after Parliament passes the Constitutional amendment Bill creating the position of prime minister and two deputies. 

At the meeting with envoys, President Kibaki said the Government has drawn up a National Reconciliation and Emergency Recovery Strategy that outlines immediate measures the coalition Government must take to repair the physical infrastructure, Kenya's international image and the national social fabric which were damaged during the post-election violence. 

Talking costs 

Speaking during a meeting at his Harambee House office, President Kibaki said the overall cost of implementing the emergency programme was initially estimated at Sh31.5 billion up to June. 

President Kibaki said the Government had identified activities and projects that are already costed and ready for implementation once the required financial and human resources are deployed. 

Additionally, the President said, the Government had identified areas in which development partners and other friends could help. 

The President said a Medium Term Action-Plan for the coalition government was being formulated. It will be based on the manifestoes of the coalition partners, namely PNU, ODM and ODM-Kenya within the framework of Vision 2030. The exercise is expected to take about one month. 

On his own part, Mr Odinga appealed to development partners to support the emergency fund, saying the projects would be implemented by the grand coalition government. 

He urged Parliament to pass the National Peace Accord and reconciliation Bill and the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill which would speed up the formation of the proposed coalition Government. 

 

AllAfrica/AOA/Qasim