AP pix President Kibaki swears in opposition leader Odinga as PM

(17 Apr 2008)

1. Mid shot of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki arriving
2. Wide of ceremony at State House
3. Former United Nations Chief and top mediator in Kenyan crisis, Kofi Annan, listening
4. Wide of (screen left to right) Kibaki, Kenyan Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga standing at ceremony
5. Cutaway of police chiefs
6. Pan left of Odinga approaching podium to take oath
7. SOUNDBITE: (Swahili) Raila Odinga, Kenyan Prime Minister:
"I, Raila Amollo Odinga, hereby swear that I will be faithful to the President of the Republic of Kenya and bear true allegiance in my work, and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya, as established by the law. So help me god."
8. Odinga shaking hands with Kibaki and Musyoka
9. Wide of ceremony
10. Mid shot of Kibaki seated next to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

STORYLINE:

Raila Odinga was sworn in as Kenyan Prime Minister on Thursday as part of a power-sharing deal with President Mwai Kibaki that ended weeks of violence after disputed elections.

Kibaki named Odinga as prime minister on Sunday.

The two former presidential rivals agreed in February to share power after more than one-thousand Kenyans died in fighting, but the deal was followed by weeks of wrangling over ministerial positions.

Forty ministers are taking office Thursday, 20 each from Kibaki's and Odinga's supporters.

The former ruling party retains key ministries like finance and internal security, but the former opposition takes positions including agriculture and local government.

All ministers, including Odinga, had to swear an oath of loyalty to the president.

"I Raila Amollo Odinga hereby swear that I will be faithful to the President of the Republic of Kenya and bear true allegiance in my work and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya," he said.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and former United Nations Chief and the top mediator in the Kenyan crisis, Kofi Annan.

Many observers have criticised the size of the Cabinet, claiming it will be too expensive at a time when hundreds of thousands were made homeless by the violence.

But a peaceful protest held by civil society groups was broken up by police with tear gas.

The largest cabinet in Kenya's history will also be riddled with distrust and political rivalries.

Odinga served in Kibaki's government after the 2002 elections, but fell out when he was not made prime minister as promised.

He was thrown out of government in 2005 for campaigning against a constitutional amendment that would have greatly expanded the presidency's already considerable powers.

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