Kenya's new prime minister takes oath of office

[April 17, 2008]  NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Kenya's opposition leader was sworn in Thursday as the country's prime minister, part of a power-sharing deal with President Mwai Kibaki that ended weeks of violence following disputed presidential elections.

Kibaki and Raila Odinga agreed in February to share power after more than 1,000 Kenyans died in the fighting, but wrangling over ministerial positions had taken weeks longer.

Forty ministers were also taking office Thursday, with Kibaki's ruling party and the opposition providing 20 each. The ruling party retains key ministries like Finance and Internal Security, while the opposition took over Agriculture and Local Government.

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

Many observers have criticized the size of the Cabinet, which will be largest Cabinet in Kenya's history, claiming it will be too expensive at a time when hundreds of thousands were made homeless by the violence.

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

Odinga served in Kibaki's government after the 2002 elections, but fell out with Kibaki when he did not become 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.

[Associated Press; By TOM MALITI]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.