Kenya cabinet holds first session

The issue of collective responsibility will be paramount, correspondents say

Kenya's president has urged members of the cabinet to focus on implementing crucial government programmes, during the government's first formal session.

President Mwai Kibaki chaired the meeting of the power-sharing body in Nairobi, amid tensions that threaten to weaken the coalition.

The coalition government was key to solving Kenya's post-election violence.

Clashes after last December's elections left some 1,500 people dead and 600,000 homeless around the country.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power in February after negotiations led by former UN head Kofi Annan.

Divisions

"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," President Kibaki said, urging the ministers not to be distracted by other issues.

The cabinet resolved to make the country's food security its top priority, by increasing the country's food reserves and increasing food production, according to a statement from President Kibaki's office.

The ongoing programme to resettle thousands of internally displaced persons was another item on the meeting's agenda.

The government will continue to assist those who return to their homes as they rebuild their lives, the ministers resolved.

The cabinet also agreed on the formation of five cabinet committees:

• national security
• finance administration and planning
• infrastructure

• services
• production.

The president will head the national security committee, while Prime Minister Odinga will chair the others.

The BBC's Josphat Makori in Nairobi says that since their appointment in April, ministers from the coalition partners, the president's Party of National Unity (PNU) and Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have been divided on key issues.

Kenyans are still trying to come to terms with the post-election violence

The coalition also faces a growing challenge from a group of lawmakers who want to form an opposition in parliament.

The MPs - from both the ODM and PNU - say they want to scrutinise the government's performance.

Mr Odinga has criticised the idea, saying it would undermine the principle of the coalition government.

But some ODM leaders have voiced their disagreement with the prime minister on the issue, leading to speculation that this could lead to a split within the party.