Eric Shimoli
1 July 2008
Egypt — President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were yesterday praised for putting Kenya's interests ahead of their personal ambitions and ending the post election violence.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete who is the chairman of the African Union led other Heads of State and Government in praising President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.
But there was also caution that conflicts arising from disputed elections were on the rise and a mechanism for reducing or avoiding such incidents should be developed at the continental level.
President Kikwete was opening the 11th summit of the Africa Union Heads of State and Government Summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, attended by other East African Presidents Kibaki, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, among others.
President Kikwete and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan witnessed the deal signed between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga that ended nearly two months of violence following disputed Presidential polls.
Other members of the negotiating team led by Mr Annan were former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and former South African First Lady Graca Macel.
President Kikwete and the Chairman of the AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping suggested that Zimbabwe should consider following Kenya's example in resolving that country's electoral dispute pitting President Robert Mugabe against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC.
President Kikwete said Kenya was now cal m and the grand coalition government was working.
He described the mediation in Kenya as "difficult at times", but praised President Kibaki and Mr Odinga for putting the nation's interests first and agreeing to a deal. He said the Kenyan model for resolving the conflict could be used to solve future continental disputes.
President Kikwete expressed the AU's solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, describing the country as facing challenges arising from the disputed Presidential re-run.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sat and listened attentively as President Kikwete, Mr Ping and a Deputy UN Secretary General Asha Rose Migiro, described his country as facing serious challenges following the polls.
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