| Kenya's opposition party says it will not back down on its demand for executive powers in government |
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| Back on the negotiating table, they agreed on a coalition government in principle... but remain deadlocked on the details of power sharing. The ODM are demanding an overhaul of the current executive structure. They want the president stripped of some of his powers Under their proposal he will be head of state and a new position of prime minister in charge of government should be created. It says the current presidency has too much power. "We want the president to look after a few portfolios - foreign affairs and the defence, but the prime minister running day to day business of government answerable to parliament. " But the government does not seem keen to give the ODM any executive powers. They have offered a more ceremonial prime minister and key cabinet positions to the ODM, with the president still fully in charge. "We are not just interested in positions, if we were just longing to be in the cabinet we would not have gone to elections, we wanted change in the country. We wanted change in the way the country is run.." Kenya's rivals are under heavy international pressure to find a solution soon.The talks resumed following America's heavy push for what it calls a real power sharing agreement. There are no deadlines yet but time is crucial. The nation is growing more anxious by the day for the almost two months old political stalemate to be ended. |
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