Talks
still on in
But no
solution yet
By
Joseph Ojwang
Current statistics indicate that
over one thousand people lost their lives, more than one third of a million
people were displaced and numerous properties worth millions of shillings
looted and destroyed as a result of the chaos.
Mediation talks are being led by
former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan. Kibaki's side
and the opposition side, led by Raila Odinga, have expressed optimism that the talks will end the
political deadlock, but disagreements have so far been many and concessions
few.
Following angry outbursts by one
government minister in response to ultimatums surrounding aid to
Anan proposed a grand coalition as
the only way out of the political mess, however the government side has not
agreed to that solution.
Despite the majority of citizens
calling for peace and a quick resolution, the government wants a strong system
of checks and balances, and claims that forming a coalition will defeat that.
On his five nations visit to Africa,
US President George Bush also stated his opinion that a grand coalition is the
best way for Kenya to end the violence, however he added that the US will not
push Kenya to choose that option.
Bush sent US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to join Anan on the mediation talks and find ways of ending
the violence and making a full return of democracy in
Both parties presented their
positions.
Government
demands:
• No
re-counting or re-tallying of presidential votes.
• No
re-run of presidential elections.
•
Constitutional, legal and institutional reforms.
• ODM be denied the right to petition against president Kibaki.
•
Establishment of Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
• No
judicial commission of inquiry.
ODM
demands:
•
Re-counting and re-tallying is untenable and will not substitute for
presidential election re-run.
• Legal
action is not an option under the circumstances.
•
Transitional government between ODM and Government side.
• Both
parties to exercise joint executive authority
•
Cabinet seats according to parliamentary strength impracticable
• Fresh
elections in three or six months.
•
Reconstitution of
•
Carrying out of constitutional and legal reforms.
Since presenting these demands, both
parties have been holding talks under Anan to drop some of their hard and
unworkable positions.
ODM has softened its stand and now
pushes for a re-run after two years to enable healing from the crisis that left
the country in shatters and destroyed the economy.
The post election violence was also
the expression of a number of underlying factors such as land and distribution
of resources.
Kenyans now want all these factors
to be investigated and a solution implemented through constitutional reforms in
order to avert more bloodshed in future general elections.
Displaced from the North Rift region
where they were settled by the first president of
Amending
Joseph Ojwang is Change-Links correspondent in