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Kenya: EU's Mediation Efforts
Now Offer Hope
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
Posted to the web 20 January 2008
Sunday Standard Team
Nairobi
A flicker of hope that negotiations could start despite the
standoff between the Government and ODM came with the arrival of
European Union commissioner for Development, Mr Louis Michel.
Michel met both ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, and President Kibaki.
Michel first met Raila at the Serena Hotel then proceeded to State
House on Saturday afternoon.
He did not divulge details of the meetings but said ODM had tabled
their proposal, which they expected him to relay to President
Kibaki.
Michel's visit comes ahead of the expected arrival of former UN
chief Kofi Annan on Tuesday to troubleshoot the stalled
negotiations.
The process ran into trouble a fortnight ago when the two sides
failed to even come to a face-to-face session under the mediation
of Ghanaian President and African Union Chairman, Mr John Kufuor.
Before Kufuor's arrival, ODM showed readiness for negotiations by
calling off mass action, which had been scheduled ahead of the
process.
But there are looming hurdles that could scuttle it again.
ODM announced a fresh programme of protest, which starts Monday in
Kisumu, with an interdenominational funeral service for people
killed in post-election violence in the town.
The party rolled out a programme that will include the funeral
services and mass action countrywide on Thursday.
ODM has also rejected Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka as the head
of a committee appointed by President Kibaki to facilitate
dialogue.
Raila said ODM was not aware of the committee's constitution.
He described Kalonzo as incompetent and least qualified to
negotiate with ODM.
"We want a credible team, not people who have always undermined
our position. Kalonzo is not that person," said Eldoret North MP,
Mr Wiliam Ruto.
Raila said: "We hope talks start with speed and after meeting Kofi
Annan, we shall agree on the number of delegates to negotiate on
our behalf."
Ruto said ODM would also look at possibilities of sending a
delegation to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Ruto further clarified that ODM did not talk about sanctions
against the Government with the EU, arguing that it was not in its
domain.
Nobel Peace Laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, also dismissed
Kalonzo's committee.
"Kalonzo was a competitor with Raila, and I do not think the ODM
leader will listen to him. What will Kalonzo tell Raila or his
lieutenants, knowing he is perceived to have undermined their
cause for leadership?" posed Maathai.
Elsewhere, Kalonzo kicked off his role of leading dialogue on the
Government side by meeting members of the Africa Forum for Peace
Mission.
The peace mission members, who paid Kalonzo a courtesy call at his
Jogoo House office, include former African presidents Mr Joaquim
Chissano (Mozambique), Mr Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania) and Sir
Ketumile Masire (Botswana).
Kalonzo expressed optimism that the country would emerge out of
the crisis united.
He said the Government appreciated the role of the international
community in spearheading dialogue.
Chissano said: "We are here to assure Kenyans that they are
capable of finding peace, and they should not despair."
PNU lauded the Kalonzo's commission, saying the basis of any
meaningful dialogue and reconciliation is truth and justice.
A statement signed by Director of Programmes, Mr Moses Kuria, and
a national co-ordinating committee member, Dr Josephine Ojiambo,
said that due to the competitiveness of the poll, it is natural
that there is bound to be deep emotions and feelings.
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