NASA chief Raila Odinga’s call for a six-month transitional government has caused an uproar and Jubilee immediately repudiated power-sharing as “wishful thinking”.
Jubilee says there’s no crisis or emergency, Raila’s holding the country to ransom, wants another Grand Coalition (2008-2013) and is creating turmoil so he can illegally enter government through the back door.
Ratcheting up the pressure, the former Prime Minister wants an interim government to prepare for a fresh, free and credible presidential election. It would spearhead repeal of the winner-take-all presidential system and substitute a parliamentary system.
He has already launched a National Resistance Movement and called for demonstrations in Nairobi tomorrow to push for electoral reforms.
A transitional, interim or provisional government is an emergency governmental authority set up to manage a political transition.
The former Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition wants this transitional government to be all-inclusive, with representatives from both NASA and Jubilee. It would only last six months, until the election.
“What we are calling for requires a longer time. We are calling for, in the meantime, that we need to have an interim arrangement of government in which we will involve representatives from both parties,” Raila told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.
Raila is in the US for a series of meetings, some with with elected leaders to whom he will explain his view of the Kenyan political turmoil since the August 8 General Election. His handlers call it a diplomatic coup.
The Supreme Court overturned President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory on August 8, citing massive irregularities and legalities. Raila rejected that poll and the October 26 rerun as shams and charades. He does not recognise Uhuru Kenyatta as President.
“We think six months will be required to carry out all these changes we want in this country in order to have proper a free and fair election,” the ODM chief said
But Jubilee MPs accused Raila of using unconstitutional means to create a Grand Coalition.
The onslaught was led by National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale and Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen
“Kenyans voted on October 26 [in the presidential rerun] and elected the President. Raila Odinga should forget a share of government. We are tired of this gerrymandering and desperate manoeuvres for nusu mkate,” Duale yesterday told the Star
“Kenya is not a failed state, we have a Constitution that has not collapsed. It is wishful thinking of Tinga (Raila) to imagine Kenya is in political crisis,” he said.
Murkomen told the Star Raila’s latest demand confirms he only wants to get into government “through the backdoor”.
“You can see the country is calm and the Supreme Court will make its decision in 11 days. So the crisis Raila is talking about is a figment of his fertile imagination.
“We do not agree with NASA that this should be a single-party state. Let Raila take his place in
A transitional government can be formed, usually appointed, in cases of new nations, civil or foreign wars or regime collapse.
Although Kenya’s Constitution doesn’t provide for an interim government, Raila said it was the only way to navigate uncharted waters and perilous times.
Uhuru won the rerun with 98 per cent of the vote after Raila boycotted the poll, saying it would not be fair.
Uhuru faces two Supreme Court petitions challenging his rerun victory. The David Maraga-led court has until November 20 to rule.
On Tuesday Raila said the provisional government would spearhead constitutional reforms to introduce a ‘fairer’ parliamentary system. This, he said, would cure the problem of exclusion of communities the divisive, cutthroat battles every five years.
Raila said a parliamentary system would accommodate Kenya’s tribal diversity.