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Post by job on Feb 12, 2008 22:29:29 GMT 3
africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL12827870.htmlREUTERS wrote: NAIROBI, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The head of the government team at Kenya's crisis talks criticised chief mediator Kofi Annan on Tuesday, complicating his efforts to bring a swift end to the country's post-election turmoil. Annan told parliament Kenya should have a political solution this week to its dispute over a Dec. 27 election that triggered clashes that killed 1,000 people and uprooted 300,000 more. He later answered questions in a closed door session. Justice Minister Martha Karua condemned comments she attributed to Annan -- that negotiators had agreed on a transitional government for two years before a new presidential vote. "As chair of the panel, you are expected to be impartial and to take every care not to misrepresent or compromise the position of either party," Karua said in a letter addressed to Annan and sent to media organisations. "To this end, we feel that these inaccuracies have greatly undermined our position and embarrassed us as members of the dialogue team. We demand that the issue be revisited as the first item when we next meet." Annan's spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Kenya's closest-ever vote thrust the country into one of its darkest moments since independence in 1963, denting its image as one of Africa's most stable democracies and a peaceful trade and tourism hub. The crisis laid bare grievances between tribes about wealth, land and power that have existed since British colonial rule -- which most Kenyans believe have been aggravated by politicians over the years. "GRAND COALITION" Former U.N. head Annan said Kenya's divided parliament must swiftly endorse wider reforms, adding that both sides had agreed that an independent investigation into the polls would make recommendations to guide electoral reforms. Expecting a deal within days to end the immediate conflict over President Mwai Kibaki's re-election, Annan was due to take the government and opposition negotiating teams to a secret location outside Nairobi. "I expect that we shall conclude our deliberations ... resolving the political conflict this week," he said. Sources on both sides have said the deal would entail some kind of power sharing, and Annan said they were discussing what form it would take -- hinting at a cross-party "grand coalition". "Grand coalitions have served other nations well ... when you have the sort of urgent political grievances we seem to have here," he said. "They come together to try and work out ... the divisive issues, to make the constitutional and other changes required, and then eventually organise an election." Annan has said the negotiating teams will tackle those issues in the talks, with the aim of producing concrete reforms over the constitution, land, and election laws within a year. Both sides, he said, had agreed there was "no immediate, viable way forward either through retallying, recount or an audit" of the election. Opposition leader Raila Odinga initially demanded that Kibaki step down and the vote be re-run, and refused any kind of power-sharing. Kibaki urged Odinga to go to court to challenge the vote as Kenya's laws prescribe, and has said he is open to having some opposition members in his cabinet, which is only half-filled. A senior government official with direct knowledge of the talks said the government will only share power "in the form of cabinet posts to be decided by the president himself". (For special coverage from Reuters on Kenya's crisis see
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Post by pippyza on Feb 12, 2008 22:37:38 GMT 3
Kenyans are waiting to see who derails the talks
Martha Karua thinks she can afford to fool Kenyans. Annan is not her classmate
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Post by politicalmaniac on Feb 12, 2008 22:45:52 GMT 3
I can live with the 2yr transitional Govt - a 'Grand coalition' of sorts, that will panel beat the constitution and midwife changes in the ECK.
Martha must be jittery, as she correctly interprets the Kofi solution as condemnation and invalidation of the election which was brazenly stolen in broad daylight.
I wonder what her proposals are?
What are the PNU proposals out of this quagmire? that kegs remain boss and R/ODM take the crumbs of ministerial positions and pretend that all well and dandy? and achieve 'peace? and 'resettle' the IDPs? and then institute peicemeal reforms of the constitution and then wait for 2012?
Not happening!!
When will it dawn on these PNUists that the lull now is temporary and we shall be back to square one if no political solution of significance occurs?
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Post by job on Feb 12, 2008 23:04:15 GMT 3
Pippyza,
What are you still waiting to see?
Its already right here,......less than four hours after Kofi Annan asked for a ceasefire on back and forth public statements from both protagonists,........even choosing to relocate the talks to a more isolated venue........
Martha Karua now comes out to demonstrate DISRESPECT for Kofi Annan,.....DEFIANCE against Kofi's well-meaning request for negotiators to avoid press statements,....... and INTRASIGENCE and CONTEMPT for the negotiation process,.....
Remember how Kofi Annan and Cyril Ramaphosa were played around with.....wasting a valuable 48 hours..............
PNU has sensed that Kofi Annan may not be able to "patiently wait out" as they drag feet. They want to wear him down. Watch this space.
I am not surprised at all.............in fact I was waiting for PNU & ODM-K to come out openly (not through the sidelines like Kalonzo musyoka was trying to do in the UK and US) but directly in Kofi's face ...........and say they are not ready to negotiate..........
Their flawed assumption is that they got away with the stealing of elections....................For them, this was all but just to buy time, drag feet and hope for calm to return....then engage in the game they love best........back to the dirty & secretive business as usual......milking Kenya dry.
Well, in a nutshell, that is NOT going to happen, and it may infact really end up very badly for Kibaki and his cohorts. Watch this space.
Job
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Post by JAHAATWACH on Feb 12, 2008 23:52:00 GMT 3
Allow me to say as follows.
Annan probably receives this kind of letters every other day from the two protagonists but what makes this one stands out is its timing and more importantly the intentional violation of the ban on news black-out by Annan.
The protest letter is an indication of the desperation in the Kibaki's camp and attendant insecurities. But I can also see in it a warning shot to Annan. The fact that Kibaki chose Karua to fire this volley of protest is no coincidence because she is the Minister that technically has oversight over the affair Annan is managing.
PNU would have chosen Mutula Kilonzo or Prof. Ongeri or even kalonzo but Kibaki who obviously consented to the statement, let it be from the government spokesperson on constitutional affairs.
For ODM it is good news because it means it exposes the adversary before the international glare for what it is. ODM, as I would wish, need to go to this negotiations casting themselves as the underdog but more importantly never trusting.
I had predicted that the bunge kamukunji would either be called off or be turned into launching pad to time wasting Naivasha like parleys and I fear that I was right. I also smelled a rat the moment Annan gagged the politicians and then went ahead to draw the curtain down on the people he should be dealing with in the first place: wanainchi.
By the way, who is funding the process? Whoever funds such events, as Prof. Bethwel Allan Ogot once counseled me, always have the last word.
my senti tatu
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Post by adongo23456 on Feb 13, 2008 0:04:05 GMT 3
Allow me to say as follows. Annan probably receives this kind of letters every other day from the two protagonists but what makes this one stands out is its timing and more importantly the intentional violation of the ban on news black-out by Annan. The protest letter is an indication of the desperation in the Kibaki's camp and attendant insecurities. But I can also see in it a warning shot to Annan. The fact that Kibaki chose Karua to fire this volley of protest is no coincidence because she is the Minister that technically has oversight over the affair Annan is managing. PNU would have chosen Mutula Kilonzo or Prof. Ongeri or even kalonzo but Kibaki who obviously consented to the statement, let it be from the government spokesperson on constitutional affairs. For ODM it is good news because it means it exposes the adversary before the international glare for what it is. ODM, as I would wish, need to go to this negotiations casting themselves as the underdog but more importantly never trusting. I had predicted that the bunge kamukunji would either be called off or be turned into launching pad to time wasting Naivasha like parleys and I fear that I was right. I also smelled a rat the moment Annan gagged the politicians and then went thead to draw the curtain down on the people he should be dealing with in the first place: wanainchi. By the way, who is funding the process? Whoever funds such events, as Prof. Bethwel Allan Ogot once counseled me, always have the last word. my senti tatu I think the Kenyan tax payer is funding the talks. I am hoping they will have the last word. adongo |
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Post by wakwitu on Feb 13, 2008 0:10:59 GMT 3
JAHAAT:
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Post by JAHAATWACH on Feb 13, 2008 0:31:57 GMT 3
JAHAAT: There is another forum that I enjoy parring with you but I wont be baited for a cat fight on this one.No way! Anyway thanks for stopping by. |
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Post by wakwitu on Feb 13, 2008 0:40:34 GMT 3
I am sorry but you must have the wrong person in mind, may be with the same handle - this is the only forum I "par", I am not holding my breathe on your solutions either.
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Post by pippyza on Feb 13, 2008 1:01:10 GMT 3
@ Job,
Thanks. You are right to mention that the traitors are already out.
It seems Karua doesn´t know the role of Annan. He is a mediator not a negotiator.
As Kofi put it, it is habitual that crisis of the one we have in Kenya is solved through formation of coalitions awaiting free and fair elections.
PNU should be the official Opposition Party and therefore should be urged to make a strong Opposition in Parliament with Kibaki as it´s leader. But this needed no mediations, Miss Karua
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Post by kamalet on Feb 13, 2008 6:13:16 GMT 3
I think Karua is very much within her rights to correct any wrong statement by the chair of the talks whenever they are made in public. The kamukunji was not a secret negotiation meeting, but a forum to update MPs on what has been going on.
Of course this is not the first time that there has been altercations between Kofi and the government team when Kofi overstepped his mandate and he has had to apologise to the committee for such gaffes, and I do not think this will be the last time.
Finally for the fellow that wanted to show any significance to the call for the kamukunji by Kofi and likening it to a presidential mandate, let him know that the president never summons kamukunjis - that is the work of the speaker. Be guided accordingly.
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Post by insidious on Feb 13, 2008 9:07:02 GMT 3
Well, in a nutshell, that is NOT going to happen, and it may infact really end up very badly for Kibaki and his cohorts. Watch this space. Job Martha Karua and co have flashed their aces and nothing doing. Fact is, if the elections were not flawed, they'd not be at the negotiating table. Kibaki is on the defense and will be irrespective of any foot dragging maneuvering. If Kenya had no issues to resolve, then PNU ought to be going about their business as if. Karua' naked embarrassment is restricted to no one else and they now realize that US, UK, EU, UN & AU mean business. Their collective opinion cannot be wrong, not to mention SA, Ghana and EA. Museveni, albeit congratulating Emilio, called it as it is and left. he has since delegated his reservations through his VP, PM & Deputy PM with visits to Statehouse. In addition, Kenyan's have added their voice, so how can all these entities be mistaken while PNU sits defiant? ODM is investing it's position in Kenya for Kenya, what does PNU stand for, more of the same? How is it that when Raila & co supported Kibaki & co in 02, all was well, he was a hero, and now that he opted to venture out minus Kibaki, he's an ibilisi? O2 was a grand coalition and that will not work this time unless parliament stamps this mediation process with legislative clout. Kibaki cannot be trusted and Kenyan's decided that on 12/27 in addition to his track record of disregarding pacts. Ask the idiot from Bukusu who goes by the name Kombo. PS:Bernard Namunane's propaganda columns won't cut it either. |
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Post by mimimzalendo on Feb 13, 2008 20:06:44 GMT 3
do you think there was ever a time in the MOI multiplarty era (Kaparo speaker) or even the 5 years of Kibaki era (Kaparo speaker) that a SPEAKER called an informal session without being silently nodded and expressed by the President to do so?
someone answer me pliz...........
so when an international community negotiator or mediator (call him what you like) calls for this to take place and VOILA it takes place, what message do you think it is???
somethings are so clear but i guess when andu-aitu blinkers are on, its hard to see.
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Post by mimimzalendo on Feb 13, 2008 20:08:50 GMT 3
insidious,
well put. on the way to the rigged re-elections, pnu and mafia stepped on too many toes and promised too much that wont be forthcoming now. so guess when the mediators turn to different ears to hear, what do they hear?
"... if you sell eggs in the market place, never be the activist who encourage stone throwing .."
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Post by mzee on Feb 13, 2008 20:36:37 GMT 3
If PANU has not realize by now that it not them that are controlling the outcome of the talks then they are headed for trouble. It should be clear that its US/UK/EU dictating the talks. Annan knew the end results before the talks began and his is just to guide both ODM and PANU through to accept it. He know that Kibaki did not win but will never say that Kibaki lost. He knows that ODM won but will not say so in public. The noise by Karua is ok, for PANU has to have room to air their frustration but the bandit president knows that such talk is cheap.
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Post by JAHAATWACH on Feb 13, 2008 23:12:17 GMT 3
PRESIDENT Bush or Jabungu as my mum calls him, is leaving for Africa this Friday for a whirlwind tour to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia, meeting heads of state in each.
I have recieved an e-mail from BBC informing me that its presenter for BBC World News America, Matt Frei, will be interviewing Bush tomorrow Thursday at White House."This special edition of the weekday programme will air globally on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 February at various times. You can either watch it live via internet or TV or listen to it in any of the BBC World Service language services broadcasting to Africa including Arabic, English for Africa, French for Africa, Hausa, Kinyarwanda, Portuguese for Africa, Somali and Swahili."
I am further told that Bush and Frei will among other things focus on the issues surrounding the president's upcoming trip to Africa including AIDS policy and the malaria initiative.
It is instructive to note that President Bush discussed Kenya with Koffi Annan successor in UN,Mr Ban Ki-Moon who was in Nairobi the other day.
I think this interview is worth watching/ listening because obviously Kenya will feature in the discussion(see Mzee1's reasoning above).The closest the Airforce One will land is my former domicile,Tanzania where you bet the top question that newshounds would be asking the world's most powerful man.
By the way is it a coincidence that Annan's deadline for the talks coincides with Jabungu's arrival in Africa?
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