Kenya’s coalition shaken as guards almost exchange blows

FRICTION within Kenya’s coalition government took a new twist when President Mwai Kibaki’s security guards were almost involved in a fist fight with those of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Trouble began when presidential guards barred Raila Odinga’s security men from the VIP podium during independence celebrations on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, where the two leaders were marking the 45th Madaraka Day celebrations.

The guards shoved each other and exchanged insults as Odinga’s five guards were not allowed onto the VIP section where Kibaki’s guards were awaiting the president. Only one guard was later admitted to mind the prime minister and his wife, who arrived shortly before President Kibaki.

Military chief Jeremiah Kianga had to intervene to stop a possible fist fight.

The scuffle broke out shortly before President Kibaki and his wife arrived at the venue of the celebrations.

President Kibaki and Mr Odinga signed a power-sharing deal in February which saw the installation of a bloated 'grand coalition' Cabinet of 42 ministries

The agreement followed a dispute over the results of last year’s presidential poll, which left some 1,500 people dead and many others injured.

Noel Mwakugu, a reporter with the British Broadcasting Corporation in Nairobi says suspicion still runs high between ministers from President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) and the prime minister’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

The coalition is likely to be shaken by President Kibaki’s recent anti-amnesty announcement.

Kibaki ordered that those who committed criminal acts during the political crisis earlier this year be punished and directed the police to speed up investigations on cases.

The President’s announcement was made only minutes after Prime Minister Odinga had said the Government would find a solution to the problem.