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| Kenya MPs agree big cabinet cuts | Kenya MPs agree big cabinet cuts |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Kenyan MPs have passed a bill with an overwhelming majority to nearly halve the number of ministries from 40 to 24 in a bid to cut costs. | Kenyan MPs have passed a bill with an overwhelming majority to nearly halve the number of ministries from 40 to 24 in a bid to cut costs. |
| The 42-member cabinet and the more than 50 assistant ministers have come in for criticism from taxpayers. | The 42-member cabinet and the more than 50 assistant ministers have come in for criticism from taxpayers. |
| The cabinet was formed last year after a power-sharing deal was brokered by international mediators to end deadly post-election ethnic violence. | The cabinet was formed last year after a power-sharing deal was brokered by international mediators to end deadly post-election ethnic violence. |
| The bill must be signed by the president before it comes into affect. | The bill must be signed by the president before it comes into affect. |
| If approved by President Mwai Kibaki, they would take effect in the next parliament. | |
| 'Embarrassed' | 'Embarrassed' |
| During the debate, MPs said the bloated cabinet, which also includes the president and prime minister, had made it ineffective, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reports. | During the debate, MPs said the bloated cabinet, which also includes the president and prime minister, had made it ineffective, Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reports. |
| This showed even ministers don't know each other as their number is too big MP Kabando wa Kabando Huge financial cost of cabinet Officials defy big car ban | This showed even ministers don't know each other as their number is too big MP Kabando wa Kabando Huge financial cost of cabinet Officials defy big car ban |
| "I was embarrassed when a minister asked me the name of a colleague who was just seated on the opposite side of the house," MP and Sports Assistant Minister Kabando wa Kabando is quoted as saying. | "I was embarrassed when a minister asked me the name of a colleague who was just seated on the opposite side of the house," MP and Sports Assistant Minister Kabando wa Kabando is quoted as saying. |
| "This showed even ministers don't know each other as their number is too big." | "This showed even ministers don't know each other as their number is too big." |
| He said President Kibaki and his former political rival Prime Minister Raila Odinga were being held hostage to ethnic and regional interests and a trimmed cabinet would help reduce tribalism. | |
| About 300,000 people were forced from their homes - and 1,500 killed - as violence erupted after the disputed December 2007 presidential election. | About 300,000 people were forced from their homes - and 1,500 killed - as violence erupted after the disputed December 2007 presidential election. |
| The proposed law would also require ministers to have a university degree and be vetted before their appointment. | The proposed law would also require ministers to have a university degree and be vetted before their appointment. |
| The BBC's Caroline Karobia in Nairobi says as it stands ministers must be an MP and have passed a language literacy test. | The BBC's Caroline Karobia in Nairobi says as it stands ministers must be an MP and have passed a language literacy test. |
| After the power-sharing accord last year, correspondents estimated that the salaries for ministers, assistant ministers and the new prime minister and deputy prime ministers posts would cost the Kenyan taxpayer $1.5m (£907,000) a month. | After the power-sharing accord last year, correspondents estimated that the salaries for ministers, assistant ministers and the new prime minister and deputy prime ministers posts would cost the Kenyan taxpayer $1.5m (£907,000) a month. |