Odhiambo Orlale And Lucas Barasa
5 February 2008
Nairobi — Government and ODM mediators have agreed on major steps aimed at resolving the political crisis caused by the disputed Presidential election.
Among the key issues was the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, encourage and help displaced people to settle back in their homes or other areas and have safe passage and security throughout.
Others were to encourage the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights investigation team and to ensure freedom of expression, press and peaceful assembly.
The truth commission should have as its members local and international jurists, the team, meeting under the chairmanship of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced.
Mr Annan said that the PNU and ODM representatives unanimously agreed on the immediate measures to promote peace, reconciliation, healing and restoration. The proposed peace rallies should be convened by leaders of all political parties.
Immediately after the pact was made public, the Government lifted the ban on live coverage which had been imposed after the announcement of the Presidential results in which President Kibaki emerged the winner, but which has been disputed by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
But there was no mention of the demand by ODM to be allowed to hold public rallies over the disputed elections.
Legal reforms
Today, the mediation team is to start discussions on the political issues, including how to resolve the disputed Presidential election results, constitutional and other legal reforms.
Mr Annan is also scheduled to meet with business leaders in the morning before the start of the talks with Government and ODM representatives.
At yesterday's talks, South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa, who had been proposed as one of the chief mediators, withdrew after the Government rejected his role claiming he was an ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Annan accepted Mr Ramaphosa's withdrawal "with regret".
About 1,000 people have died and 350,000 displaced in the violence which erupted following the poll.
The team's other members are former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Mrs Graca Machel.
They recommended that measures to be implemented immediately should include:
The team agreed that in order to promote food security, displaced farmers should be assisted to return to their farms safely to resume their activities.
They also agreed that the Speaker of the National assembly, Mr Kenneth Marende, be requested to hold a Kamukunji (informal) meeting of all elected 207 MPs to allow them to ventilate and debate the political crisis.
No time frame was set for implementation of the recommendations as part of the immediate measures to resolve the crisis, but the parties recommended that weekly updates of the progress be made public and given to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.
In a statement read by Mr Annan after a meeting at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, the parties agreed to welcome and encourage the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights investigations team to the country to review the post polls violence and the perpetrators.
Affect their work
Asked whether the weekend statements by President Kibaki and the ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, over the controversial results would affect their work, Mr Annan said they would put everything on the table.
Said Mr Annan: "We are aware of what PNU and ODM have said, but in any negotiation the parties must hear all sides and then try to bridge the gap."
President Kibaki, who was nominated by PNU, told an African Union heads of states summit in Ethiopia that he was the duly elected Head of State and asked the ODM leader to go to court if he felt aggrieved.
But Mr Odinga maintained that he would not go to court because ODM had no faith in the Judiciary saying it was filled with the President's cronies.
Asked why his recommendation of Mr Ramaphosa, a leading South African businessmen, to stand in as a mediator, was rejected by the PNU side, Mr Annan said he was "bitterly disappointed."
"We are now going out to look for another mediator, and a deputy, who can sit in while I am away, to ensure continuity because in any negotiation the two parties must agree on who is the mediator," the former UN boss told the press after the marathon meeting.
Education minister, Prof Sam Ongeri, defended the PNU saying they were uncomfortable with the South African and that was why they rejected him. He did not elaborate.
At the same time, the PNU has picked Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula to join the negotiating team as a fourth member on the Government side. The ODM side last week included Ugenya MP James Orengo saying they needed a lawyer on the team.
The PNU side was represented by Cabinet ministers Martha Karua (Justice and Constitutional affairs), Prof Ongeri (Education, Mr Wetangula and Mbooni MP Mr Mutula Kilonzo.
ODM side
On the ODM side were by MPs Mr Musalia Mudavadi (Sabatia), Dr Sally Kosgei (Aldai), Mr William Ruto (Eldoret North) and Mr James Orengo (Ugenya).
They all signed the document detailing the agreements reached yesterday.
The mediation team further resolved that counselling support should be provided to all affected communities; a national resettlement programme should be developed; and that a law on registration of persons should be reviewed to remove the emphasis on ethnicity.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Mr Anan will not want to see another Rwandan experience at his watch though no longer UN S.General . I know he is a peace maker. Viva Anan.
This part of the mediation effort is so far bringing back law and order to the country and, under that atmosphere, will successfully resettle the civilians that have been displaced. This is, no doubt, an important successful first hurdle cleared by the mediation team. With this hurdle cleared, the mediation team can now start on the solution of the political problem in an atmosphere more congenial for a fruitful negotiation. For a successful political solution, both Kibaki and Odinga have witnessed the extent of the damage any reckless action on their part can cause a nation which both of them are inspiring to lead and should, in the name of humanity, move away from any hard line that can hinder the mediation effort and may eventually cause serious damage to the nation. If the mediation team finally decides to rerun the election, which is probably the simplest solution to bring out the truth, both contestants should accept the verdict and let the AU supervise the election. Kudos to the Kofi Annan team. Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God!
Thankyou Mr Anan. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I knew if any one could do it you could. Keep it up we need more poeple in the world like you. I fell in in love with with Kenya on my recent visit and I was so concerned for all my new friend over there. Thanks to you I know they will now be safe once more. Thankyou Robert Kenney