Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki has canceled on Sunday evening the decision of Prime Minister Raila Odinga to suspend two ministers of his government. The PM Odinga suspended the ministers of agriculture and education over the Maize and Free Primary Education scandal but hours later the president Mwai Kibaki lifted the suspensions.
Kibaki has said that the PM had no authority to sack ministers, adding the decision was reached without any consultation.
“The legal provisions on which the Prime Minister acted do not confer him the authority to cause a minister to vacate his or her office,” president Kibaki said in his statement.
“The war against corruption will be successfully fought when we do so in accordance with the constitution and the due process of law,” president added.
While he was answering if he had consulted with president, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga replied “Yes, requisite consultations have been made within the government. This is a government decision and I have also quoted the section in the Constitution and the National Accord which give me power to take the action I have made.”
The suspended ministers, William Ruto of agriculture and Prof Sam Ongeri of Education have denied the charges.
The maize scandal was estimated at $26 million while another $1m was stolen in an education scam, according to a recent review.
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