Kenyan PM expresses confidence over coalition gov't

NAIROBI, April 17 -- Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday

expressed confidence that the Grand Coalition Government would hold and deliver

the reforms if the spirit of frankness displayed at the Coalition talks today is

sustained.

Speaking in Nairobi when he was receiving former British High Commissioner

Adam Wood and current High Commissioner Robert Macaire in his offices, the prime

minister said Kenya's Grand Coalition cannot afford to fail.

"The discussions were frank and I believe it will help. The meeting was

very successful. We covered a lot of ground and after the talks today, we have

opened way for discussions of issues as they arise in future," Odinga said.

The prime minister said the coalition has been going through "some bad

patches, like an aeroplane going through turbulence in the air," but it will

stabilize.

He said it took too long for the parties to agree that they needed a body

to oversee the management of the coalition's affairs and that caused some

strain.

The former High Commissioner said Britain is concerned about the Grand

Coalition's readiness to tackle reforms, culture of impunity and economic

crimes.

He said London is worried about statements that Kenya could degenerate into

Rwanda-style full scale war next time if reforms are not pursued.

He said his country was concerned whether the Grand Coalition will be able

to marshal goodwill needed for agreement on a new constitution.

"Breaking the culture of impunity is critical to ensuring Kenya that Kenya

does not relapse into war again," the former High Commissioner said.

Odinga said that the country was not doing as badly on the reform agenda as

is being perceived. He said the coalition has setup a team to track the reform

agenda and report on progress on the implementation of the National Accord

matrix on reforms.

"There has been progress in a number of areas but the facts have not come

out, partly because of the problems of managing the coalition. Now that we have

agreed that management of the coalition is an issue to be tackled seriously, we

will be able to get information out on what has been done and what remains,"

Odinga said.

The prime minister said getting a new constitution would be easy if there

is goodwill from both sides of the coalition.