Kenya swears in historic coalition cabinet

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was sworn in Thursday as part of a power-sharing deal that ended weeks of violence following disputed elections.

President Mwai Kibaki named his closest election challenger as prime minister on Sunday. The two former presidential rivals agreed in February to share power after more than 1,200 Kenyans lost their lives in fighting, but the deal was followed by weeks of wrangling over ministerial positions.

Forty ministers were also taking office Thursday. Some observers have criticized the size of the Cabinet. They claim it will be too expensive at a time when hundreds of thousands were made homeless by the violence.

The power-sharing deal brought relief to Kenyans and investors watching for signs of lasting peace in east Africa's biggest economy.

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The shilling currency and the Nairobi Stock Exchange have rebounded already, having suffered badly after the country erupted into riots and ethnic killings.

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The cabinet — almost certain to descend into infighting before long — is supposed to steer the redrafting of a new constitution within 12 months, to help address long-simmering issues of land, wealth and power that fuelled the crisis.

The inauguration makes Odinga only the second prime minister in Kenyan history. Founding president Jomo Kenyatta was prime minister for a year before his title was changed.