Kampala — THE situation in Kenya is fast degenerating into chaos, following the collapse of talks between president Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga over a power-sharing deal.

The deal brokered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in February had returned relative calm to Kenya, where at least 1,200 people were killed in violence sparked off by the disputed December 27, 2007 elections that returned Kibaki to power.

But just four weeks after the accord, violence has again returned, following a deadlock over cabinet sharing between Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) and Odinga's Orange Democratic Party (ODM).

While there could be some under currents fanning the impasse, it would be a big insult not only to Annan, but the whole of Africa, which under the auspices of the African Union, blessed the talks.

The accord clearly spelt out a power sharing arrangement on a 50-50 basis in the cabinet, the civil service and foreign service. The world sighed with relief when, after the signing ceremony, Raila addressed Kibaki as president.

ODM submitted a list of cabinet portfolios it was interested in. The wording of their proposal were carefully chosen - either or. What then is the problem now?

It is not yet too late to resolve the stalemate and all should be done to save the situation. ODM should not pull out of the talks and PNU should not renege on what was agreed upon.

While the rest of the world is pre-occupied with more pressing issues like global warming, soaring fuel costs and rising food prices, it is a shame that Africa is still mired in petty political squabbles.

Kenya is a key player in the regional economy and any chaos there has ramifications beyond its borders. That is why all must be done to ensure that stability reigns.