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Let AU mediate, British envoy
urges
NATION Story by JEFF OTIENO
Publication Date: 1/6/2008
Political divisions in the country following the flawed General
Election require international mediation, UK foreign secretary Mr
David Miliband said.
Mr Miliband said the UK and its allies, namely, the US, Europe,
Commonwealth and the African Union were for the establishment of a
strong and credible mediation process.
“The political divisions in Kenya mean an international presence
is vital. The leadership of President Kufuor of Ghana, the current
President of the African Union is therefore critical in our view,”
said the foreign secretary.
He urged all political leaders in Kenya to welcome Mr Kufuor’s
offer to play a key role in resolving the crisis adding that the
government ought to facilitate his journey to the country as soon
as possible.
Mr Miliband’s stand contradicts that of the government which has
so far resisted foreign mediation insisting that the
eletion-related problem was a national affair.
He said the source of the violence and the continuing instability
was the dispute over well-documented concerns about irregularities
in the election process.
“Serious questions about the conduct of the count stand in the way
of the formation of a stable Kenyan government that commands the
confidence of the Kenyan people and is able to unite the country.
It is vital that the democratic process works and is seen to work,’’
Mr Miliband said.
The foreign secretary said the recent events in Kenya had caused
enormous concern in the UK as well as around the world, generating
major diplomatic efforts.
Mr Miliband said UK had three goals, namely bringing an end to the
violence, ensuring concerns about irregularities in vote counting
are given full vent through peaceful political and legal means and
generate a political process capable of bringing an electorally
divided country together.
He said though violence had reduced in the urban areas, most
notably Nairobi, there was uncertainty about rural areas where
fierce violence occurred.
The foreign secretary said large numbers of people had fled their
homes, citing the UN estimates of 180,000. DFID has since given
£1m to the Kenyan Red Cross for humanitarian assistance,
particularly in the Rift Valley area.
Mr Miliband said political leaders must work together in a way
that reflected the will of the people.
He said Kenya had suffered needlessly from violence.
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