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A nation at a crossroads
Published on January 6, 2008, 12:00 am
By Ben Agina and Maseme Machuka
EA STANDARD
President Kibaki repeated he is ready to form a cross-party
government but Orange Democratic Movement leader Mr Raila Odinga
maintained negotiations be transacted through a credible
international mediator.
Both separately met visiting US Assistant Secretary for African
Affairs Dr Jendayi Frazer and made their positions known. Kibaki’s
message came through a dispatch from the Presidential Press
Service while Raila addressed journalists at Pentagon House.
The meeting took place as the Pope sent in a message of hope and
prayer for Kenya. It was also the day the British Foreign office
once again expressed concern with events in Kenya and supported
power sharing.
Kibaki said he would accept a unity government "that would not
only unite Kenyans but would also help in the healing and
reconciliation process".
But the ODM leader said the GNU was not the way to go due to the
past experience. "President Kibaki should stop hoodwinking Kenyans
and address the real issues. We have gone through that path of the
GNU and it cannot work."
Raila told journalists: "We are going to the negotiating table to
put forward our conditions. We do not want to do that through the
media."
He added: "What we want is an amicable way towards a peaceful
settlement. Kibaki should know that Kenya will have peace if we
address the issues surrounding the elections."
PPS reported: "Frazer commended President Kibaki for reaching out
to the opposition to stop the violence and called on all parties
involved to embrace dialogue as a way out of the current situation."
The President was with Foreign minister Raphael Tuju and Ms Martha
Karua (Justice) while the US Assistant Secretary was with the
American ambassador in Kenya Mr Michael Ranneberger.
Curtains rolled on the week that opened with the storm kicked off
by President Kibaki’s contested second term as focus shifted onto
the construction of the Cabinet.
Speculation was rife in the political arena his new Cabinet could
be named and sworn-in on Tuesday – the day ODM plans to hold the
first of its frustrated rallies at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park.
Sources revealed the President could leave out some key positions
vacant, probably including the Vice- President’s, for speculative
purposes. The strategy could also be to entice the ODM brigade
into GNU, or simply to demonstrate his doors are not completely
shut.
As interest snowballed on what form of Cabinet Kibaki could be
toying with even as he warms up to the idea of coalition with
other parties, the East Africa Law Society (EALS) told him to wait
untill the current political post-election impasse is resolved.
‘’It is retrogressive if he appoints the Cabinet before mediation
is over, and will indicate that his government is ignoring the
mediation process,’’ EALS President Tom Ojienda said.
Kibaki’s plans could, however, have been complicated by the
decision of small parties to form a joint parliamentary group of
35 MPs-elect.
This makes the group the third largest in Parliament after ODM
(100) and PNU (43). It also dislodges ODM-Kenya from the lucrative
bargaining power slot with 16 seats. ODM’s muscle in the House is
discernible from the fact that apart from the six seats it is
entitled to in the nomination category, it has in its brood three
MPs from Pentagon member Mrs Charity Ngilu’s Narc and the United
Democratic Party’s MP-elect for Mogotio, Prof Hellen Sambili. This
pushes the ODM strength in the 222-member House to 109.
Role of smaller parties
Some of the parties falling under the Smaller Parties
Parliamentary Group are New Ford-Kenya, Safina, Democratic Party,
Kaddu, Sisi Kwa Sisi, Ford-Asili and Mazingira.
They coalesced around SPPG with a message to President Kibaki that
he can only approach its members to take up seats in his Cabinet
through its leadership.
"In the spirit of national reconciliation and healing SPPG wishes
to bring to the attention of the President and MPs-elect that as
per the amendment to the National Assembly and Presidential
Elections Act passed last year, it is mandatory for the sponsoring
party to give its express written authority to the President under
the advice of the Speaker that such party agrees to the
appointment of their members to the Cabinet,’’ said the group. Its
statement was signed by, among others, Mr Paul Muite, Mr Cyrus
Jirongo, Mr PLO Lumumba and Ms Njoki Ndung’u.
SPPG described itself as independent of PNU and ODM. They called
on the Government to enforce the Political Parties Act; already
given assent by the President, saying it enhances multi-party
democracy.
On Wednesday, Kibaki told MPs-elect in his camp that he would
welcome any lawmaker who was willing to work with him.
The President conveyed the message at a meeting opposition
MPs-elect were expected to attend.
The Head of State had summoned all MPs-elect to State House
through an afternoon alert that ODM and ODM-Kenya dismissed.
Earlier, Foreign Affairs minister Mr Raphael Tuju had given the
clearest indication that the President could craft a Government of
National Unity that incorporates Opposition MPs.
"We are reaching out to other parties so that we have a government
with many participants irrespective of their parties," Tuju told
diplomats on Monday.
On Saturday Raila once again said Kibaki should accept that his
tenure ended on December 30 and his declaration by ECK and
consequent swearing-in ceremony was a nullity.
"What we did was an example of democracy in Africa. We want to
protect this democracy for the people of Kenya spoke resoundingly,"
he added.
"If these results will be allowed to stand then the people of
Kenya will lose faith in the ballot. Why should people vote only
to declare a loser a winner?" he asked.
Meanwhile calm returned to the streets of Nairobi after a week
dominated by anxiety and fear of sporadic violence. But Raila told
supporters to gather at Uhuru Park on Tuesday. This is the
recreation barricaded by police to keep off ODM supporters since
President Kibaki was sworn-in at State House on December 30 at
dusk.
Mombasa, for the second day running, turned the theatre of running
battles and clouds of teargas as police took on a group led by
Pentagon member Mr Najib Balala.
In Kakamega a commercial building was set ablaze. There were no
reports of injuries but property of unknown value was destroyed in
the afternoon inferno. In Nakuru town a fire lit by arsonists
destroyed several makeshift garages.
The turmoil has claimed over 300 lives and displaced more than
100,000.
The UK Foreign secretary Mr David Miliband said in his statement:
"The source of the violence and the continuing instability is the
dispute over well-documented concerns about irregularities in the
elections. 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."
He added: "The message to Kenya’s political leaders is therefore
clear: the basis for the country to move forward is political
compromise, which recognises the divided nature of the electoral
vote and establishes a basis for politicians of different parties
to work together in a way that reflects the will of the Kenyan
people. The sharing of political power is the way to build bridges
across serious divides."
International efforts
"This is the context for our efforts, from the Prime Minister
downwards, and involving all our allies in the US, Europe,
Commonwealth and African Union to establish a strong and credible
mediation. The political divisions in Kenya mean an international
presence is vital. The leadership of President John Kufuor of
Ghana, the current President of the African Union, is therefore
critical in our view. We believe all of Kenya’s political leaders
should welcome his offer to play a key role in resolving this
crisis, and call on them to facilitate his journey to the country
as soon as possible,’’ he went on.
Kibaki emerged from the meeting with Frazer saying he was ready
for dialogue to resolve the crisis that has questioned the
credibility of his regime.
The peace brokerage went on as attention turns to today’s series
of prayers for peace. After prayers, television stations will
broadcast "Prayer for Peace, Truth and Justice" theme between
6-7pm.
ODM secretary general said the party was for peace and Mrs Idah
Odinga had been dispatched to Nyanza to call for calm.
Raila proposed Kufuor as the credible person to lead mediation.
Raila added UK Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown, US secretary of
State on African Affairs Ms Condoleezza Rice have implored him to
enter into talks and save the country from degenerating into a
civil war.
Other leaders who have asked the two parties to talk include UN
Secretary general Mr Ban Kim Moon, African presidents Muhammad
Gaddafi (Libya), Melez Zenawi (Ethiopia) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania).
"We are prepared to walk the extra mile in search of peace. I urge
all people to desist from violence," Raila said.
The Lang’ata MP-elect said they would keep on agitating for the
justice until their demands are met. The ODM leader also met the
head of Anglican Church in Kenya Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.
Earlier Pentagon member William Ruto said they had given Ms Frazer
two concerns to raise with Kibaki. "One of them was that Kibaki
should recognise that he is the problem and that an
internationally renowned mediator will be engaged in the talks,"
said Ruto.
Raila said Ugandan president Museveni has called him thrice
denying there were Ugandan soldiers in Kenya. "Museveni was at
pains to explain that his soldiers are not here. He asked me to
clarify the issue to the Kenyan people."
Even as Museveni denied this, the rumour of Ugandan soldiers
killing civilians in western Kenya remained strong.
Nzimbi said there was need for truth and justice. He called for an
independent international body to evaluate the presidential
results and give a definite way forward.
"All of us must accept that the tallying was riddled with
anomalies. A sense of justice and truth will end the stalemate,"
he added.
He added that the people’s reaction was due to the completion of
the exercise and called on Kenyans to be calm as dialogue was
sought.
Nzimbi who earlier met Kibaki said the President was positive and
eager to find a lasting solution to the crisis. "Ours was to
initiate the process and then independent people to take over from
us," he added.
Kibaki and Frazer agreed that all efforts should be made towards
ensuring that the politically instigated violence is ended and
affected families are resettled.
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