Kenya: Kibaki's Peace Plan
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The Nation (Nairobi)
4 January 2008
Posted to the web 3 January 2008
Fred Mukinda
Nairobi
The Government's plan for containing the violence which has hit parts of the country following the disputed presidential elections became clearer Thursday with President Kibaki announcing he was ready for dialogue, and Attorney-General Amos Wako hinting at a formula for power-sharing.
President Kibaki said he was ready for dialogue as soon as "the violence stops and calm is restored for people to engage in constructive and productive talks."
On his part, ODM leader Raila Odinga supported calls for dialogue. Mr Odinga made the remarks when he met South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu who arrived in Nairobi Thursday.
Mr Wako suggested that a way out can be found even without going to court. One of the ways to resolve the dispute, the AG said, is for a government of national unity to be formed.
Alternatively, an independent group agreeable to all sides could verify the presidential tallies, he said.
Mr Wako also warned that some of the crimes which had been committed border on genocide, - a crime punishable even through the international criminal justice system.
At the same time, three people died and a petrol station and five vehicles were set ablaze in Nairobi as groups of youths went on the rampage after police blocked an ODM rally called to protest against the results of the presidential election.
Groups of youths went on the rampage looting and burning property as they blocked sections of roads leading to Nairobi City centre.
President Kibaki, while addressing his first news conference since the violence started, assured Kenyans that the Government was doing everything possible to ensure security is maintained. Those who commit crime will face the full force of the law, said President Kibaki.
He promised to personally visit the affected areas soon to promote reconciliation and healing. Kenyans were free to settle and own property anywhere in the country, he added.
President Kibaki directed the Commissioner of Police to increase security hotlines for people to report any threats.
The President's statement was made on the day demonstrations were also held in parts of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu but these were largely peaceful. But in Kisumu, two MPs elect, Shakeel Shabir of Kisumu Town East and Olago Oluoch of Kisumu Town West all of ODM were being questioned by police after they addressed the protesting youths.
Police sources put the death toll from four days of violence at 185 while 155,711 people had been displaced. Majority of the displaced, 120,000 people, were reported to be in the Rift Valley where an operation to evacuate them to safer areas was under way.
Military escort
A convoy of 10 buses left Eldoret Town under military escort headed in the direction of Nakuru as police reported that 260 people had been arrested over the violence.
Calm returned to other major towns in Western Kenya such as Kakamega, Kisii, Bungoma and Busia even though police continued to patrol the streets.
The Electoral Commission of Kenya, meanwhile, gazetted the election of President Kibaki and 207 MPs. No gazettement of MPs was done for Kilgoris, Wajir North and Kamukunji where there were problems.
ODM leader Raila Odinga visited the Nairobi City Mortuary, Masaba hospital and Kibera slum, scene of some of the worst clashes between police and demonstrators. International mediation efforts gathered momentum with South African Anglican Bishop and Nobel prize laureate Desmond Tutu arriving in the country.
Archbishop Tutu held a two hour meeting with Mr Odinga and later said he was still trying to secure an appointment from President Kibaki's side.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, EU Foreign chief Javier Solana and American Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama whose father was Kenyan, called for dialogue among the rival camps.
On Thursday, the ODM leaders called off the rally they had planned for Uhuru Park and announced they would gather at the same venue Friday.
Police managed to keep crowds away from the park by blocking routes leading into the city centre.
Relevant Links
Uhuru Park itself was a no go zone with officers from the paramilitary General Service Unit and Administration Police placing a human ring around the grounds. Other teams of riot control police battled groups of rowdy youths in slum areas, confining them there.
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Read comments. Write your own.
I am very unhappy with the developement in Kenya. This is most disturbing coming on the heels of the wide spread discontent of the out come of the election in Nigeria. in both cases the beneficiaries have acknowledged wild and wide spread irregularities, and my question is, why is it very difficult to have a SATISFACORY election in Africa? All this call for dialogue is a call by a THIEF for compro mise on the shearing formular of what he had stolen. This is unbelievable!If a thing was stolen let it be RETURNED. I dont believe in this useless… [Read Full Text]
WHATS WRONG WITH YOUTHS?
I am a Malawian and i have been following the elections in Kenya and then the erupted violence. I really feel sad and strongly concerned. i ask myself this qustion: whats wrong with african leaders? why after an election in Africa we always hear of disputed results? is it because the potential leaders sees easy money in presidency? is it because we are poor?
And what is wrong with youths? the violence i see in Kenya is doominated by youths at every rioting place. Youths burning churches, throwing stones, ransacking shops. what is wrong with youths… [Read Full Text]
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First and foremost, it is gratifying to realize that South Africa in the person of Desmond Tutu has come to the rescue to prevent the situation from totally getting out of control. Africans all over and Kenyans in particular owe Bishop Desmond Tutu a debt of gratitute for calming down this volatile situation which televesion stations in North America were hinting that it could become another Rwanda genocide. There is no doubt this situation could have been avoided if President Kibaki had acted a bit more cautionsly and more statesmanly for the sake of keeping and maintaining peace… [Read Full Text]