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Empresas y finanzas

Kenya's Odinga named to head power-sharing cabinet


    NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki named political rival Raila Odinga as head of a power-sharing cabinet on Sunday, ending weeks of deadlock that threatened the country's economic recovery after a deadly post-election crisis.

    "I am today announcing the cabinet of the grand coalitiongovernment," Kibaki said in a live televised speech alongsideOdinga, who was appointed prime minister.

    "I want to thank you, my fellow Kenyans, for your toleranceand patience during this period... I'll do everything possibleto ensure that our country Kenya is steered along the path ofpeace, unity and stability."

    The naming of a power-sharing cabinet is central to a dealending the east African nation's post-election crisis. Morethan 1,200 people died and 300,000 were uprooted in what becamethe country's bloodiest episode independence in 1963.

    Violence exploded after Odinga accused Kibaki, Kenya'slongest-serving politician, of rigging his re-election at theDecember 27 vote that was Kenya's closest-ever presidentialpoll.

    The electoral fight degenerated into ethnic killings andriots that shattered Kenya's image as a stable tourism andtrade hub, with one of sub-Saharan Africa's most promisingeconomies.

    Finance Minister Amos Kimunya retained his position in thenew cabinet.

    (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Bryson Hull and SamiAboudi)