The Grand Coalition Cabinet meeting on Thursday failed to reach a decision on how to handle Mungiki and other armed groups.

President Kibaki chairs the first session of the Grand Coalition Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on Thursday. Top on the agenda was the need to boost security and ensure there was enough food in the wake of rising prices. Photo/PPS

The meeting, chaired by President Kibaki at State House, Nairobi, also resolved that food security would be the government's top priority.

It was the first formal coming together of the 42-member Cabinet.

Talks centred on the agenda and policies of the Government that brings together PNU, ODM and ODM Kenya.

It is understood that the meeting had on its agenda how to handle the security threat posed by the Sabaot Land Defence Force in Mt Elgon District, Mungiki and other outlawed armed groups and the fate of youths who were arrested during the post-election violence in the Rift Valley. Also on the agenda was the need to promote harmony among the ministers from various political parties.

Corruption

Sources said that other issues on the agenda included resettlement of internally displaced people, corruption and the question of protocol in Government.

The attempts by backbenchers to form a grand opposition coalition also featured as did debate on adoption of a harmonised Government manifesto to provide policy guidelines for the next four-and-a-half years.

Thursday's meeting had been postponed twice; once because Prime minster Odinga was out of the country for treatment and on another occasion to create time to heal differences among the ministers from different political camps.

To promote harmony in the Cabinet, an induction and bonding session was organised in Nairobi was last week held with the aim of getting the Cabinet ministers, assistant ministers and permanent secretaries to work as a team and drive the reform agenda of the Grand Coalition.

President Kibaki convened Thursday's meeting to drive the agenda of the coalition and find ways to tackle challenges posed by post-election violence, including finding solutions to the challenges posed by Mungiki, the Sabaot Land Defence Force and other armed groups.

Mr Odinga has in the past said he would hold talks with leaders of the sect. But in a ministerial statement earlier this week, Internal Security minister George Saitoti ruled out talks with the sect.

Protect lives

Although a plan for talks with Mungiki leaders was being put in place, it is understood that Prof Saitoti told the sitting that he was faced with the dilemma of accepting to start talks with outlawed gangs when the Constitution requires him to use the law to protect the lives of Kenyans and their property.

Those pushing for dialogue said the armed gangs had developed into complex outfits and using force to crush them would not succeed as the crackdown on Mungiki had showed. The final decision on the issue was put off until next week.

However, the meeting resolved that making the country food situation secure would be among the top priority of the Government. In this regard it was resolved that the country must urgently increase its food reserves, which will see the strategic maize reserves increased from four million bags to eight million bags in the next two years.

It was further decided that due to an anticipated grain shortage later in the year, the National Cereals and Produce Board should import three million bags of maize in the next few weeks as a precautionary measure.

The Cabinet noted that escalating international food prices were posing a serious threat to Kenya's food security hence the need to take immediate measures to cushion wananchi.

In recent months, consumers have raised concerns over rising prices of food and other basic products. Inflation, post-election violence and rising oil prices globally have been blamed for the high cost of food and other basic consumer goods.

Ministers agreed that the importation of grains would only be a temporary measure as the Government seeks ways of increasing food production.

The Cabinet also reviewed the re-settlement of internally displaced families. Members expressed satisfaction with the four-week old resettlement drive that has taken an estimated 70 per cent of displaced families back to their homes.

The ministers also agreed on the approach to be taken in the second phase of the programme to benefit those who were living with well-wishers and relatives.

Over the next few months, the Government will continue assisting those who are returning to their homes until they resume their normal lives. About 350,000 people fled to safety when violence broke out following the release of the disputed presidential election results on December 30, last year.

The Cabinet emphasised the need for national reconciliation and economic recovery to lay a firm foundation for social equity.

The meeting also agreed on the formation of five Cabinet committees on national security; finance, administration and planning; infrastructure; services and production.

Chaired by President

The National Security Committee will be chaired by the President. The other four will be chaired by the Prime Minister with the assistance of the two Deputy Premiers: Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Musalia Mudavadi.

In his opening remarks, President Kibaki urged the ministers to resist being distracted by issues that would delay implementation of crucial programmes.

Among other things, the Grand Coalition is expected to write a new constitution within one year.

"We must have the drive to succeed in serving our country and Kenyans at large, there is much expectation from the Kenyan people and we must deliver on the promises we made," the President said.

He later hosted the ministers for lunch after the talks ended at 2 pm.