Julius Mbaluto
23 July 2008
Nairobi — Prime Minister Raila Odinga has vowed that never again shall Kenya descend into the orgy of violence that rocked the country after the disputed presidential election results.
"We have been to hell and back, and never again should we go back to violence," the PM said in London.
Mr Odinga was giving a lecture on democracy in the Palace of Westminster, the home of the UK Parliament, known as the House of Commons. The lecture was organised by the Chatham House, known for their key role in International Affairs.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Kenya High Commissioner in London Joseph Muchemi and ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Najib Balala and Mutula Kilonzo.
Mr Odinga paid a moving tribute to former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Ghanaian President John Kufuor for their efforts in restoring peace in Kenya. He also commended President Kibaki for making sacrifices for the sake of peace.
Similar format
Mr Odinga said that democracy could not take a similar format in different countries, saying it must reflect the peculiarities of the country.
In the case of Zimbabwe, he said Kenya supported the peace initiative signed Tuesday by President Robert Mugabe and Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
But he said that although Kenya's grand coalition Government provided a guide for Zimbabwe, the two countries are different so the Kenyan route for peace might be different from Zimbabwe's.
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