afrol News, 17 April - More 90 members of Kenya's power-sharing cabinet, including the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement and Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, have taken oath of office in the capital Nairobi on Thursday.

The power-sharing government, which attracts members from all the ethnic communities, comprises of 40 ministers and 52 deputy ministers.

In his oath, Prime Minister Odinga said he will remain faithful to the president of Kenya. He also swore to serve Kenya with "all my heart," preserve, protect and defend its constitution.

The formation of a coalition government followed a dispute over the presidential results, which snowballed into "ethnic cleansing", resulting to the killing of at least 1,500 people and displacement of hundred of thousand others.

Brokered by the former UN chief, Kofi Annan, President Mwai Kibaki and Mr Odinga signed apower-sharing deal on 28 February. This guaranteed the creation of a Prime Minister and his deputies.

Prime Minister Odinga promised to lead a "new, inclusive" Kenya, but that his goverment's top priority would be to resettle victims of the political violence.

"We can now consign Kenya's past failures of grand corruption and grand tribalism to our history books," he said.

President Kibaki presided who presided over the ceremony called on Kenyans to unite for development.

Several dignitaries, including Kofi Annan and the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, attended the colourful ceremony.

Mr Annan hoped the new government be"cohesive, effective and productive team." He however said a lot of work remained to be done.

The spokesman of the banned Mungiki sect,Njuguna Gitau Njuguna, has announced that the sect would call off protest to give Mr Odinga time to address its grievances, including the imprisonment of its jailed leader.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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