Acting Together for Kenya - Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government

• Country/entity

  Kenya
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Acting Together for Kenya - Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government
• Date

  28 Feb 2008
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Kenyan Post-Electoral Violence (2007 - 2008) )
• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Kenya peace process
• Parties

  - Hon. Raila Odinga, Orange Democratic Movement
  - H.E. President Mwai Kibaki, Government/Party of National Unity
• Third parties

  Witnessed by:
  - H.E. Kofi A. Annan, Chairman of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities
  - H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the African Union
• Description

  This agreement defines the key principles of partnership of the coalition government as well as entrenched the National Accord and Reconciliation Act in the Constitution.

• Agreement document

  KE_080228_Acting Together for Kenya-Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

ACTING TOGETHER FOR KENYA AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERSHlP OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT

Preamble:

The crisis triggered by the 2007 disputed presidential elections has brought to the surface deep-seated and long-standing divisions within Kenyan society.

If left unaddressed, these divisions threaten the very existence of Kenya as a unified country.

The Kenyan people are now looking to their leaders to ensure that their country will not be lost.

Given the current situation, neither side can realistically govern the country without the other.

There must be real power-sharing to move the country forward and begin the healing and reconciliation process.

With this agreement, we are stepping forwarding together, as political leaders, to overcome the current crisis and to set the country on a new path.

As partners in a coalition government, we commit ourselves to work together in good faith as true partners, through constant consultation and willingness to compromise.

This agreement is designed to create an environment conducive to such a partnership and to build mutual trust and confidence.

It is not about creating positions that reward individuals.

It seeks to enable Kenya's political leaders to look beyond partisan considerations with a view to promoting the greater interests of the nation as a whole.

It provides the means to implement a coherent and far-reaching reform agenda, to address the fm1damental root causes of recurrent conflict, and to create a better, more secure, more prosperous Kenya for all.

To resolve the political crisis, and in the spirit of coalition and partnership, we have agreed to enact the National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008, whose provisions have been agreed upon in their entirety by the parties hereto and a draft copy thereof is appended hereto.

Its key points are:

• There will be a Prime Minister of the Government of Kenya, with authority to

coordinate and supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the Government of Kenya.

• The Prime Minister win be an elected member of the National Assembly and the parliamentary leader of the largest party in the National Assembly, or of a coalition, if the largest party does not command a majority.

• Each member of the coalition shall nominate one person from the National Assembly to be appointed a Deputy Prime Minister.

• The Cabinet will consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the two Deputy Prime Ministers and the other Ministers.

The removal of any Minister of the coalition will be subject to consultation and concurrence in writing by the leaders.

• The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers can only be removed if the National Assembly passes a motion of no confidence with a majority vote.

• The composition of the coalition government will at all times take into acconnt the principle of portfolio balance and will reflect their relative parliamentary strength.

• The coalition will be dissolved if the Tenth Parliament is dissolved;

or if the parties agree in writing;

or if one coalition partner withdraws from the coalition.

• The National Accord and Reconciliation Act shall be entrenched in the Constitution.

Having agreed on the critical issues above, we will now take this process to Parliament.

It will be convened at the earliest moment to enact these agreements.

This will be in the form of an Act of Parliament and the necessary'amendment to the Constitution.

We believe by these steps we can together in the spirit of partnership bring peace and prosperity back to the people of Kenya who so richly deserve it.

Agreed this date 28 February 2008

Hon. Raila Odinga

Orange Democratic Movement

H.E. President Mwai Kibaki

Government/Party of National Unity

H.E. Kofi A. Annan

Chairman of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities

H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete

President of the United Republic of Tanzania

and Chairman of the African Union