March 15, 2004: Vice-President Arthur Moody Awori leads ministers and delegates, who included some MPs, in a dramatic walk-out from the Bomas III talks to protest at the rejection of a report by the team set up to find consensus. In particular they disliked the conference’s decision to revert to the Zero Draft, which effectively stripped the President of many of his powers and transferred them to a prime minister. The consensus “has been undermined by underground forces,” complained Cabinet minister Kiraitu Murungi. Roads, Public Works and Housing minister Raila Odinga went against an earlier Cabinet decision and – alone among ministers – voted against the new proposals by Bishop Philip Sulumeti’s consensus committee. As the walk-out by 138 delegates took place, the Lang’ata MP stayed in his seat and – with Cabinet ministers Ochillo Ayacko and Najib Balala – continued to take part in the conference. The walk-out was triggered by lengthy arguments and threats by Mr. Murungi, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, that the Government would not stay in the talks if delegates threw out Bishop Sulumeti’s report. The delegates voted against it by 314 votes to 151, with one abstention. The remaining delegates, a total of 327 out of the 629 full house, then swiftly passed the Zero Draft version of the Executive ‘section, which transfers powers to the prime minister as the head of government. , They also debated controversial clauses on devolution and public finance in the Zero Draft which they passed by 329 -2 and 333-1 respectively.

Photo|Nation Syndication