Kenya is on the verge of a new political era, as the country's parliament prepares to usher in its first ever power-sharing coalition.

Legislators are meeting today to push through landmark changes to the constitution.

The deal allows Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, to take the new post of prime minister.

Mwai Kibaki, the Kenyan president, is scheduled to chair a meeting of the "Grand Coalition Joint Parliamentary Group" on Thursday at 10am (0700 GMT), before officially opening the parliament session at 2:30pm (1130 GMT)

Done deal

The agreement between Kibaki and Odinga was struck last week, after weeks of mediation by Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general.

Both sides have agreed to set up a committee that will outline policies for the coalition government to be formed in the coming days.

The power-sharing agreement broke a two-month old deadlock created by the disputed presidential elections, held in December 2007.

The newly formed cabinet coalition will replace the previous government announced by Kibaki, days after he was controversially declared the winner of the presidential polls.

Negotiations ahead

Earlier, Kenya's 10th parliament was opened on January 15 at the height of political violence and tribal killings that had left around 1,500 dead.

It is only after weeks of mediation that Kibaki and Odinga struck a deal on February 28.

Last month's accord had been well received in Kenya but tough negotiations lie ahead for both sides as the government line-up remains yet to be decided.

Kibaki had invited Odinga then to join his government but the opposition leader refused to recognise Kibaki's re-election, plunging Kenya into its worst ever political crisis.

Nationwide clashes between Odinga and Kibaki's supporters had triggered a wave of ethnic violence across Kenya.

PHOTO CAPTION

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki (R) chats with Opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Ralia Odinga during a closed door meeting at his office in Nairobi March 4, 2008.