Nairobi — Kenya should be proud to host yet another round of talks among the armed factions in Somalia. But a nagging doubt lingers over whether these talks will yield anything more than 13 previous efforts since 1991 when President Siad Barre was overthrown.

However, this time round, the outcome might be different. The previous talks were scuttled by various warlords who routinely boycotted them. However, it is understood that the majority of the delegations are already in Eldoret, and it is to be fervently hoped they will come up with a peace formula, and a method for forming an effective government.

The major theme of this conference, which is supported financially and materially by the European Union and the United States, was captured well by President Moi and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who said that regardless of the number of such talks, unless the Somalis themselves got down to business and agreed on how to salvage their own country, no outsider will ever do it for them.

Said President Moi during the opening ceremony on Tuesday: "More than 13 peace initiatives have been held, yet Somalia still bleeds". He should know, having hosted two previous attempts with nothing to show for it.

This is the hub of the matter. There must be reasons why these warlords carved up their country into fiefdoms and ensured there would be no central government or any peace for the past 11 years. They and their clans must benefit personally, which is probably why in the past they have opposed the creation of a unitary state.

Unfortunately, this instability in Somalia has long destabilised neighbouring countries, especially Kenya and Ethiopia, which is why the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has been sponsoring peace talks.

In the case of Kenya, most of the small arms which have made the country insecure are said to originate from Somalia. So do the majority of refugees in Kenya. Even on the basis of self-interest, there is every good reason why Kenyans should be interested in the outcome of the talks.

The only such talks that yielded any tangible benefit were held in Djibouti in 2000. The result was a cobbled-up transitional government, which, unfortunately, was rejected by most of the warlords, and which has, therefore, never controlled anything beyond the capital city, Mogadishu.

Something better than this is expected of this latest round.