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Ministers disown political
referees
Story by JEFF OTIENO
Publication Date: 1/15/2008
The political impasse stemming from the controversial December 27
General Election is bound to continue after two key ministers
insisted the Government had not invited a group of eminent persons
for mediation talks.
Roads minister John Michuki
speaks when he handed over to new Internal Security minister
George Saitoti yesterday. He said the Government had not
invited international mediators into the country.
Photo/PETERSON GITHAIGA |
Speaking on Monday at a Press
conference in Nairobi, Roads minister John Michuki and
Internal Security minister George Saitoti insisted that
President Kibaki won the election and had no business
inviting mediators as the Government was not an aggrieved
party.
“We did not invite the former presidents and Ghanaian
President John Kufuor. Even Kofi Annan (former UN
secretary-general) has not been asked to come by us,” said
Mr Michuki who spoke after handing over the Internal
Security docket to Prof Saitoti at Harambee House.
The new Roads minister continued: “We have not complained to
anybody. How can we call somebody after winning an election?”
Last week, Ghanaian President
John Kufuor, who is also the African Union chairman, failed
in his bid to bring President Kibaki and his rival Mr Raila
Odinga to a face-to-face meeting to discuss ways of
resolving the political standoff that has seen more than 500
people killed and over 250,000 left homeless.
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However, before leaving the country,
President Kufuor expressed optimism that the group of eminent
persons led by Mr Annan will help reach a solution to the problem.
Mr Michuki said they had the power to deny those invited entry
into the country, “but we have decided to let them come and we are
ready to listen to what they have to say”.
Election was flawed
The remarks come ahead of the arrival of Mr Annan, who is expected
in the country to spearhead talks between the President and Mr
Odinga to unlock the impasse over the disputed polls.
Both international and domestic observers and ODM say the election
was flawed and failed to meet international standards on human
rights and civil liberties, but the Government insists that
President Kibaki won fairly.
The US and EU have already warned that they will stop the
‘business as usual’ strategy if the crisis is not solved soon.
Mr Michuki said the Government had no contact with the
international persons being mentioned, adding that they were ready
to continue serving Kenyans. Prof Saitoti said the Government was
ready for dialogue, adding that it was ODM that felt aggrieved.
“We cannot be averse to anything that contributes to peace,” the
new Internal Security minister added.
The two ministers’ remarks indicate Mr Annan, former Tanzanian
President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel — the wife of former
South African President Nelson Mandela — face a daunting task in
bringing the two protagonists together.
The two also dismissed the mass action calls by ODM.
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