SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GRAND COALITION GOVERNMENT AT STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI, 13TH APRIL, 2008

Fellow Kenyans,

I know that you have all been anxious to see the conclusion of the consultations on the formation of the new Coalition Government.

I am therefore pleased to announce that following extensive consultations within the coalition, and taking into consideration the current challenges facing the country as well as the need to ensure regional balance in the leadership of this country, I am today announcing the Cabinet of the Grand Coalition Government.

Fellow Kenyans,

The outcome of the General Elections brought to the fore unprecedented political challenges. The situation has required Statesmanship and sacrifices for the sake of national peace and unity.

The enactment of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008 and the agreement on the Cabinet underscores the commitment of our nation's leadership to put the collective interest of the country and our people above everything else.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister Designate and all the political leaders throughout the country for upholding the spirit of dialogue, which enabled us to unlock the political deadlock.

I also commend the religious leadership, trade unions, human and professional bodies in our country that have supported dialogue and reconciliation to ensure that a peaceful settlement is concluded within the shortest time possible.

Furthermore, I thank the mediators led by His Excellency Kofi Annan as well as friendly countries which have supported and encouraged us to overcome the political challenges we have been experiencing.

Above all, I want to thank you, my fellow Kenyans, for your tolerance and patience throughout this period. I want to assure you all that I will do everything possible to ensure that our country Kenya is steered along the path of peace, unity and stability.

Fellow Kenyans,

The multiparty politics that this country has embraced over the last 17 years has posed serious challenges to our national cohesion.

But the experience we have gained over the years, and this period in particular, has enabled us to overcome the difficulties, while we undertake necessary reforms to ensure that our country and people will be assured of living in a secure, cohesive and prosperous nation.

The enactment of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and the announcement of the new Cabinet today, demonstrates the commitment of the political leadership to move ahead and pay more attention to addressing the challenges facing our country and people.

Foremost, is the plight of our people - men, women and children - evicted from their homes and farms by the recent mindless violence and hooliganism? In that regard, my government has increased security presence in the affected areas in order to prevent a recurrence of the violence and mayhem.

We are also facilitating the displaced people to resettle back on their farms as we support them and the surrounding communities with farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. The new Cabinet will prioritize resettlement of the displaced people so that they can resume normal lives and play their part in nation-building.

I urge Cabinet members to spearhead the message of peace in all the affected areas.

Another area is the need to ensure equal opportunities for all our people. In this respect, when I took over the leadership of this country, I pledged to commit more resources for the development of the Arid and Semi-Arid areas of our country which have in the past suffered neglect due to inadequate resources provisions and poor infrastructure.
In the Cabinet I am announcing today, I have therefore created a new Ministry for the development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands in order to focus on and address the unique challenges facing these areas.

The expanded Cabinet also introduces new Ministries to give priority attention to areas that are critical to the transformation of our country into a newly industrialized nation status. These include the Ministries of Industrialization, Planning and Vision TWENTY-THIRTY, and Nairobi Metropolitan Development.

Finally, I wish to reiterate and emphasize that all Kenyans enjoy equal rights under the law. In this respect, we cannot allow or tolerate discrimination of a Kenyan in whatever form. Every citizen must enjoy the right to work and to reap the benefits of his or her labour anywhere in the country without hindrance.

And therefore, the attitude, especially among some leaders, that communities should be restricted to particular areas or that some Kenyans can be perceived to be foreigners in some parts of the country is backward and unacceptable.

As we welcome foreign nationals to partner with us in developing our country, so must we welcome and embrace one another as brothers and sisters. Indeed, it is through such interaction that our country and communities can tap skills that will spur development.

The key to addressing the challenge of poverty is hard work to generate wealth and expand employment opportunities. So, my challenge to the new Cabinet Members and the entire national leadership at all levels is: let us put politics aside and get to work.

Let us build a new Kenya where justice is our shield and defender, and where peace, liberty and plenty will be found throughout our country.

I now announce the new Cabinet as follows:

1. Office of the President

Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security

·       Minister: Hon. Professor George Saitoti

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon.Simon Lesirma

·       Hon. Joshua Orwa Ojode

Ministry of State for Defence

·       Minister: Hon. Yusuf Haji

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon. David Musila

·       Hon. Major General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaisserry

2. Office of the Vice President

·       Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs:

·       Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Lorna Laboso

Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons

·       Minister: Hon. Gerald Otieno Kajwang'

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Francis Baya

Ministry of State for National Heritage & Culture:

·       Minister: Hon. William Ole Ntimama

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Joel Onyancha Omagwa

3. Office of the Prime Minister:

·       Prime Minister:

·       Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Alfred. Khang'ati

Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision Twenty Thirty:

·       Minister: Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Kenneth

Ministry of State for Public Service:

·       Minister: Hon. Dalmas Anyango Otieno

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Aden Ahmed Sugow

4. Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Trade:

·       Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade:

·       Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. James Omingo Magara

5. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government

·       Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government:

·       Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Robison Njeru Githae

6. Ministry of East African Community

·       Minister: Hon. Amason Kingi Jeffah

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Peter Munya

7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

·       Minister: Hon. Moses Wetang’ula

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Richard Momoima Onyonka

8. Ministry of Finance

·       Minister: Hon. Amos Kimunya

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Dr. Oburu Oginga

9. Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs

·       Minister: Hon. Martha Karua

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. William Cheptumo Kipkorir

10. Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development

·       Minister: Hon. Mutula Kilonzo

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Elizabeth Ongoro Masha

11. Ministry of Roads

·       Minister: Hon. Kipkalya Kones

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon. Wilfred Machage

·       Hon. Lee Kinyanjui

12. Ministry of Public Works

·       Minister: Hon. Chris Obure

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Dickson Wathika Mwangi

13. Ministry of Transport

·       Minister: Hon. Chirau Ali Makwere

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. John Harun Mwau

14. Ministry of Water and Irrigation

·       Minister: Hon. Charity Kaluki Ngilu

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri

15. Ministry of Regional Development Authorities

·       Minister: Hon. Fredrick Omulo Gumo

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Judah Katoo Ole Metito

16. Information & Communications

·       Minister: Hon. Samuel Poghisio

·       Assistant Minister:

·       Hon. George Munyasa Khaniri

·       Hon. Maj. (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana

17. Ministry of Energy

·       Minister: Hon. Kiraitu Murungi

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Charles Keter

·       Hon. Maalim Mohamud Mohamed

18. Ministry of Lands

·       Minister: Hon. Aggrey James Orengo

·       Assistant Minister:

·       Hon. Silvester Wakoli Bifwoli

·       Hon. Samwel Gonzi Rai

19. Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources

·       Minister: Hon. John Michuki

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe

·       Hon. Jackson Kiplagati Kiptanui

20. Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife

·       Minister: Hon. Noah Wekesa

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Josphat Koli Nanok

21. Ministry of Tourism

·       Minister: Hon. Mohamed Najib Balala

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Cecily Mtito Mbarire

22. Ministry of Agriculture

·       Minister: Hon. William Samoei Ruto

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon Japhet Kareke Mbiuki

·       Hon. Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki

23. Ministry of Livestock Development

·       Minister: Hon. Mohamed Abdi Kuti

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Bare Aden Duale

24. Ministry of Fisheries Development

·       Minister: Hon. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Mohamed Abu Abuchiaba

25. Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands

·       Minister: Hon. Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Hussein Tarry Sasura

26. Ministry of Cooperatives Development

·       Minister: Hon. Joseph Nyagah

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo

27. Ministry of Industrialization

·       Minister: Hon. Henry Kiprono Kosgey

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Ndiritu Murithi

28. Ministry of Housing

·       Minister: Hon. Peter Soita Shitanda

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Kariuki

29. Ministry of Special Programmes

·       Minister: Hon. Dr. Naomi Namsi Shabani

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Mohamed Muhamud Ali

30. Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs

·       Minister: Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge

·       Assistant Minister Hon. Atanas Manyala Keya

31. Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation

·       Minister: Hon. Hon. Beth Wambui Mugo

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Dr. James Ondicho Gesami

32. Ministry of Medical Services

·       Minister: Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Danson Buya Mungatana

33. Ministry of Labour

·       Minister: Hon. John Kiyonga Munyes

·       Assistant Minister: Hon. Sospeter Ojamaa Ojamong'

34. Ministry of Youth and Sports

·       Minister: Hon. Dr. Helen Jepkemoi Sambili

·       Assistant Minister:

·       Hon. Wavinya Ndeti

·       Hon. Kabando wa Kabando

35. Ministry of Education

·       Minister: Hon. Samson Kegeo Ongeri

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon. Prof. Patrick Ayiecho Olweny

·       Hon. Andrew Calist Mwatela

36. Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

·       Minister: Hon. Dr. Sally Jepngetich Kosgey

·       Assistant Ministers:

·       Hon. Kilemi Mweria

·       Hon. Asman Abongotum Kamama

37. Office of the Attorney General

·       Attorney General: Hon. Amos Wako

Thank you, God Bless you all and God Bless Kenya.