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Kalonzo team can't resolve
election crisis
Editorial NATION
Publication Date: 1/19/2008
President Kibaki Friday named a committee of nine, most of them
Cabinet ministers, on an assignment related to the political
crisis that followed the General Election.
Other than an acknowledgement that Kenya is indeed in the midst of
a political crisis, the exact mandate and functions of the
committee chaired by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is not clear.
According to the Presidential Press Service, the committee is
supposed to “spearhead national political dialogue, national
reconciliation and to promote international understanding and good
relations on the political problems facing the country following
the recently concluded elections.”
That is as ambiguous as can be. It is not clear whether the
committee is mandated to negotiate directly with the opposition
led by Mr Raila Odinga that disputes President Kibaki’s electoral
victory; whether it will form the government contingent to any
meetings called when former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
arrives to mediate between the opposing camps; or whether it is
simply a public relations team.
That the committee comprises some ministers very much in the
hard-line camp that denies the existence of a crisis and rules out
international mediation cannot be very comforting just days before
Mr Annan’s arrival.
Unless the role and mandate of the committee are clearly spelt
out, it might turn out to be just another of those gestures out of
State House — like the press invitation for a meeting with all MPs
or the invitation to ODM leaders alongside religious leaders —
that seemed more diversionary than intended to facilitate any real
dialogue.
The committee’s formation might also serve to remind us that the
key to resolving the problems facing Kenya is the direct
engagement of the two principal foes across the political divide –
President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.
Kenya is burning and there is no need for diversionary manoeuvres
and time-buying tactics. Vice-President Musyoka has spoken often
on his desire to see a peaceful resolution. This is his
opportunity, presuming he has not been handed a poisoned chalice.
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