Beauttah Omanga And Khadar Akulle
23 April 2008
Nairobi — Mediation talks failed to take off due to a quorum hitch, as most of the negotiators were away meeting with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Only two Cabinet ministers, Mr Mutula Kilonzo and Mr Moses Wetangula, attended the scheduled meeting at the Serena Hotel and announced the talks had been rescheduled to Thursday.
"Most of our colleagues are meeting the President and the PM. We will meet on Thursday at 10am," said Kilonzo.
He said he had finalised drafting the new coalition agreement, which was due for adoption by the negotiators.
He said the team had also agreed on three commissioners, two of them foreigners, to carry out investigation into the causes of post-election violence.
He said the names were forwarded to the President for gazettement.
But the Nairobi Metropolitan Development minister, who represents the PNU side in the talks, said the mediation team was still in the process of identifying a Kenyan to serve as the commission's secretary. "We are looking for a Kenyan, possibly an experienced lawyer, to serve as the commission's secretary and lead counsel," he said.
The mediators settled on High Court Judge, Justice Philip Waki, to chair the commission.
Kilonzo said the composition of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, would be announced this week.
"We are still looking at the CVs of those who were proposed to the commission, which will be important in the country's healing process," he said.
He said key issues addressed in the new coalition agreement include policy matters in different ministries, dispute resolution among the coalition partners, conflict resolution and the coalition's time frame.
"We have extensively addressed all issues that will see the coalition last and deliver to Kenyans with the bottom line being a united country for the benefit of all," said Kilonzo.
He said the negotiators expected the Kreigler-led commission to come up with ways to reform the electoral process.
The minister said the Kreigler commission was expected to suggest the best ways to appoint commissioners.
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