NAIROBI, June 30 (Xinhuanet)-- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday carried out a major cabinet reshuffle, bringing in opposition politicians in a move likely to end internal wrangles within his coalition government and fight corruption.

    The new cabinet includes two prominent members of the main opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the leader of the smaller Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People (FORD-PEOPLE) party.

    He appointed former finance minister and FORD-PEOPLE leader Simeon Nyachae as energy minister, former ruling party KANU members of parliament John Koech and Njenga Karume in charge of newly created ministries for East African and Regional Cooperation and Special Programs respectively.

    Kibaki also transferred long serving foreign affairs minister Kalonzo Musyoka to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. His place was taken over by Ali Makwere who was previously the minister for labor.

    The far reaching changes were announced by Kibaki in a televised address at State House Nairobi.

    Analysts here said that although the president's latitude was limited by regional considerations, some new faces were appointed to take on full ministerial positions and two ministers manning significant dockets relegated to less significant roles in a bid to renew faith in the war against corruption and resolving the internal squabbles crippling the ruling party's capacity to steer the country toward economic recovery.

    In what he termed as reorganizing the government to reflect the diversity of the Kenyans, Kibaki said it was time politicians put aside endless political disputes and redirected their energies in baking a bigger national cake.

    "Today, I have therefore decided to re-organize my government to reflect the diversity of the Kenyan people. This government of national unity will see the merging of some government departments that play complimentary roles. It will also involve rationalization of some departments in key sectors to ensure efficient service delivery," Kibaki said.

    This is the second time Kibaki has reshuffled cabinet since he took office at the end of 2002. Enditem