In April 2009, the then-Prime Minister Raila Odinga publicly criticized President Mwai Kibaki’s administration for rolling out what he termed a “half carpet” and the absence of a Provincial Commissioner at a state function, terming it unfair treatment during an official visit to Mombasa.
His statement came just a year after the signing of a grand coalition government agreement following the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
Odinga felt that it was a deliberate attempt to belittle him and his office as the Prime Minister. He saw the short carpet and poor stage setup as a public insult.
Raila Calls Out Kibaki’s Administration for Unfair Treatment
The Prime Minister complained that he was not accorded the reception befitting his status, noting that there was “no red carpet” and “no toilet commensurate with that of a Prime Minister.”
“Waziri mkuu anakuja kwa sherehe kubwa kama hii ya serikali. PC hakuna, unaambiwa PC ameenda Nairobi. Kama Kibaki angekuwa anakuja hapa, PC hangeweza kuwa hapa? Angekosa? Angekosa? Halafu na nusu kapeti kama hii, nusu mikeka. Halafu anasema eti wao wanakuheshimu. Hakuna respect. Wanakuchukua wewe kama namna hiyo tu,” said Raila.
loosely translated:
“The Prime Minister comes to such a big government function. The Provincial Commissioner is not there; you are told he has gone to Nairobi. If Kibaki was the one coming here, would the PC be absent? Would he miss it? Would he? And then half a carpet like this, half mats. And then they say they respect you. There’s no respect. They just treat you casually like that,” said Raila.
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Odinga was in Mombasa to receive a dignitary from the Government of Finland, but he was not received by the Coast Province Provincial Commissioner, as was standard protocol for state functions.
At the same time, Raila expressed frustration with Kibaki’s administration for failing to consult him, despite their power-sharing arrangement under the Grand Coalition government.
Odinga Accuses Kibaki’s Allies of Disrespecting Him
Odinga accused civil servants and Kibaki-allied politicians of undermining his authority by excluding him from crucial government decisions, effectively running a “monopoly” on the presidential side of the coalition and disregarding the true 50/50 power-sharing arrangement outlined in the National Accord that ended the 2007 post-election violence.
“New districts are being created every day. Everywhere, there’s a new district. This new district, and the law says only Parliament can create a district. Now we are part of the government, and the Prime Minister doesn’t know. He says the President will give out a district tomorrow. He just gives it on his own. Is that fair?”
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The then-Prime Minister was accorded full honors at his next public function, during a burial ceremony in Vihiga County.
Unlike in Mombasa, Raila was received by the Western Province Provincial Commissioner. There was a full red carpet and a properly erected dais, befitting a senior government official.
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