A crucial Cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday where among other things a decision is expected to be taken on whether the government should hold talks with militia groups in the country.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga disclosed that the meeting, the first of the grand coalition cabinet, will discuss the outlawed Mungiki sect.

He made the announcement from his office at the Treasury when he met a delegation from Mt Elgon as a statement was released by the Presidential Press Service on the cabinet meeting.

The PPS dispatch said President Kibaki will chair the first Grand Coalition Cabinet in State House this morning, but did not give details of the agenda.

Too weighty

The PM described the matter as too weighty to be determined by one individual hence requiring a collective decision by the grand coalition government.

"There's no way an individual can make such a decision unilaterally," said Mr Odinga moments after meeting a delegation of Sabaot clergymen, elders and professionals in Nairobi.

Thursday's Cabinet meeting - to be held at State House, Nairobi - will be the first formal gathering of members of the grand coalition.

Mr Odinga, at the same time, said there were no contradictions by government officials over plans to handle militia groups in the country.

Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti on Tuesday said the government would not negotiate with Mungiki sect members or any other outlawed militia.

This appeared to contradict an earlier promise by Mr Odinga that the government will dialogue with members of the sect and address their grievances.

Members of the outlawed Mungiki sect have in the recent past caused mayhem in Central, Nairobi and Rift Valley provinces.

Said Mr Odinga; "There are no contradictions on the side of the government over this matter. What the minister (Prof Saitoti) said is right since there are currently no ongoing talks with any of these groups at the moment."