No recount in Kenya vote, says Annan

[politicalmaniac]

According to CNN

www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/12/kenya/index.html

"The agreement means the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki will stand despite international monitors citing flaws in the voting."

Really?
Really Really Really?

[50cents]

Sad news for kenya. Lets hold our breath hoping that there will be a re-run in two years time.

[nereah]

politicalmaniac said:

According to CNN
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/12/kenya/index.html
"The agreement means the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki will stand despite international monitors citing flaws in the voting."

if kofi blubbered that four weeks ago,he would have been lynched. how things change!

[politicalmaniac]

Its amazing that the sloth will seem to ride out this disastrous situation unscathed, and basically hide in SH and move on with life as if nothing happened.
I cant wait to see the outcome of the discussions and negotiations

[job]

I think what Kofi is basically saying IS that people should move beyond the 2007 elections & it's records (for obvious reasons) and work towards a new election.

BUT, the new elections should be done differently this time,.....not under the same constitution,..not under the same ECK and election rules,.....AND CERTAINLY NOT UNDER UNILATERAL WHIMS OF KIBAKI....BUT UNDER A COALITION OF SHARED POWER BETWEEN BOTH KIBAKI'S & RAILA'S TEAMS.

That's the logical thing to do. Recounting tapered ballots & votes does not make sense. Auditing ECK records that have had a month-and-a-half-long period to "fix" is also not serious.

Remember that due to imminent legal & criminal charges,........ECK commissioners and staffers have a bigger stake to see that the results "match" what they earlier announced.

So.....Kofi says he's pushing for a coalition government (power sharing) to usher in constitutional and electoral reforms......that should pave way for fresh elections.

Job

[pippyza]

I agree with Kofi on this.

Really, doing a re-count or auditing at this time would be an exercise in futility. The records and the ballots have been tampered with, obviously.

I support power sharing ( according to political parties might) in an interim government. Fresh elections should be called not later than 15 months from the date the interim coalition is announced.

Constitutional reforms to be conducted before the elections.

That sounds Fair & Just to me.

[JAHAATWACH]

I think the best news from Annan so far is the proposed Commission of Inquiry to investigate the flaws of the 2008 elections.

My hunch is that this is the brainchild of James Orengo or if you like ODM.

Why am I thrilled by it? I am glad you asked because quite frankly I have been a deeply worried soul until this concern was isolated from other vexing issues and accorded the attention it deserves.

Government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua has been on the roof top screaming to the world: show us the evidence that Kibaki stole Raila's cow.

Infact Kibaki and his supporters have been demanding a recount or re-tallying of the presidential votes and as late as this week they were telling us that if a recount is done, Kibaki will still beat Raila with a landslide.Yet we all suspect that the material evidence have been tampered with.

If this inquiry and the anticipated injunction would not have been effected,then there is the genuine risk that what someone here in Jukwaa calls a civilian coup would be treated in official government record as a valid,lawful and legal electoral success. For PNU, this is a success for posterity!

By accepting an independent probe both Kibaki and ODM teams are confident that they can prove the other wrong.This proposed probe is crucial because its outcome would, in my small mind, go along way in officially determining the group or individual(s) that history will haunt.

I am also delighted by the specificity of the probe: the flaws of the elections.And whats more? it will be judicial in nature and also of international standing.

Kibaki and his supporters will be acquitted and they will sigh with relief if the probe found out that the 2008 elections had no flaws.

But this is a long,long shot if what Kivuitu, Observers, the Tumwa Four(the four ECK commissioners led by Ambassador Jack Tumwa) and rest of the world have told us.

This historical record is crucial as we would probably see in 10,30 or 50 years time, when individuals,groups or institutions whose future was ruined by post-2008 election violence seek redress in Nairobi,Hague or even in Spain as we recently heard of Rwanda. ;D

[job]

Good observation. That inquiry WILL BE of immense importance. It will be interesting to follow. Eventually, folks will have to answer questions in tribunals or courts....even if it is delayed,.....that has to happen.

Going by Kivuitu's own doubts,.......some ECK commissioners admission of flaws.......some ECK staffers whistle-blowing (some who publicly exposed irregularities then fled into exile).....the independent EU observer report,....local observers consortium.......reports by KNHRC.......and David Ndii's credible analysis..............and the unpublished independent exit polls by the International Republican Institute (IRI)......it may infact not be difficult to prove obvious flaws in the elections.

Forensic audits (of ECK forms like 16A's), signature & hand writing reading expertise, and good interrogation of those Returning Officers who dissapeared and turned off their cell phones before relaying to Kivuitu the results from their constituencies for days (even some constituencies in and around Nairobi) ......will indeed illuminate the darkness surrounding the process.

The decision NOT TO simultaneously relay the results in a national board and to all media outlets as they came in,......as was the case in previous elections and during the referendum....will hopefully be revisited. The Bus loads (City hoppa) of APs transported across the country will be revisited hopefully and claims of stuffed ballots found in buses investigated, incuding claims that Saitoti's brother was caught on camera stuffing ballot boxes with pre-marked votes.

It will also be curious to know the citrcumstances surrounding the swift and secret swearing-in ceremony.................and why Kibaki, in his own wisdom chose to go ahead and appoint only half a cabinet,.....when the norm from genuine winners is to confidently fill in an entire cabinet with head up.

But as of now, I am indeed happy that Kofi Annan is not easily duped into believing that the documents currently in custody of ECK reflect untampered and authentic evidence.

Kofi recognizes and appreciates the immense powers of an imperial presidency and how it permeates and influences every single intitution we have in the country,....ECK, Judiciary, Police, Army all to favour the imperial president. He's seeing beyond PNU's antics ati,...lets NOW recount the votes.......That in itself is a breath of fresh air.

Job

[wakwitu]

I agree with JOb and pippyza on this. Can you imagine a case where there is an audit of the flawed records and it authenticates MP of Othaya's election? This is a good move by Annan, even ODM had rejected it. At this time it is worthless to recount.

For me here is how i see it, you ask: What do we want the outcome / end to look like? And in this case I would venture to say it JUSTICE and then the next question, is how do we get there from here ..and that is where the ODM team has to tread carefully.
I will have problems if MP of Othaya remains prezo. with the current executive powers - that MUST be trimmed...

[kamalet]

Really??

You guys are amazing! The government side agrees to such an inquiry and you are all excited? Supposing the inquiry comes out and says that it was ODM propaganda that wanted to show the elections as flawed whilst the numbers add up for the government? Supposing the govt insists on the inquiry determining the fullness of the result before moving on to the interim government that calls for the next elections?

When you see government heartily agreeing to something, be afraid...be very afraid!

[politicalmaniac]

What a stalemate folks
And here we are, hundreds of thousands displaced, 1000 lives lost, and the economy in shambles.
Yet no solution is in sight.

The PNu people have scewed us up big time.
What a nightmare, I still cant believe the sh!t these tribal maniacs have put us through.