afrol News, 22 January - President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya has threatened to sack his four cabinet ministers following a public quarrel over the current food crisis. Kenya has launched an emergency appeal last Friday amid an acute food crisis in the country, with over 10 million people facing starvation.

The president demanded that any troubling issues in the cabinet should be raised within the correct channel, not through public criticism that would derail the essence of the unity government and the nation's confidence.

Reports said the Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa came under spotlight for his Wednesday attack on Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the saga involving a second grain handling facility at the Mombasa port.

However, Dr Wekesa is reported to have sent an apology note to Mr Odinga expressing regret that he had discussed the issues in the media without first examining the implications on government.

Dr Wekesa, had criticised Mr Odinga over the current maize shortage asking him to tell Kenyans what he has done to prevent the crisis as chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on food security.

According Daily Nation, Lands minister James Orengo also got a dressing down for statements he made in public regarding some cabinet colleagues, which were interpreted as a breach of the government's collective responsibility.

On the other hand Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and his Agriculture counterpart, Mr William Ruto, were put on the spot for their handling of the recent oil shortage and mismanagement of the sale of maize from the National Cereals Board to millers.

The President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga entered into a unity government in early 2008 to end the 2007 post election violence that killed more than 1500 people and displaced thousands.

Kenya, the east Africa's economic power house and major cereals producer saw its economy tumbling in less than two months, and is also facing food shortages after farmers failed to produce enough food after elections violence and climate related problems.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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