Friday, February 29, 2008
Letter of Solidarity with the Women of Kenya from
We, the women of South Africa, under the banner of the South African Women in Dialogue, united in our diversity, and representing all nine provinces and all sectors of our society, hereby express our deepest solidarity with you as you and your compatriots continue to experience ongoing violations of your civil and human rights related to the political unrest that continues to plague your country following the 2007 general elections.
MoreAgrement on the principles of partnership of the coalition government
ACTING TOGETHER FOR KENYA: AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERSHIP OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT.
Preamble:
The crisis triggered by the 2007 disputed presidential election has brought to the surface deep-seated and long-standing divisions within Kenyan society. If left unaddressed, these divisions threaten the very existence of Kenya as a unified country. The Kenyan people are now looking to their leaders to ensure that their country will not be lost.
MoreThursday, February 28, 2008
ACHPR Statement on Kenya violence
Statement by the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, H. E. Honourable Justice Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, violence in the Republic of Kenya
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has followed closely, and with growing concern, the violence that has engulfed Kenya in the aftermath of the Presidential elections held at the end of December 2007.
The African Commission is very concerned that the violence has led to the destruction of property and loss of life, and generated thousands of internally displaced persons, as well as refugees now seeking shelter in neighbouring countries. The Commission is particularly concerned by the developments, which have had a very deleterious effect on the human rights situation in the country.
Power-sharing deal reached in Kenya
Rival leaders in Kenya have agreed to form a coalition government after weeks of nationwide violence and political unrest.
Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general who has been mediating talks between the government and the opposition, said on Tuesday that an agreement had been made, ending the political crisis. “We have come to an understanding on the coalition agreement. We do have an agreement,” he said.
He said that further information on the deal between Mwai Kibaki, the president, and Raila Odinga, the leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), would be given at 4pm (1300GMT). Annan had suspended talks on Tuesday after negotiators for either side could not agree on a deal. Primary in disagreements was the level of power to be assigned to the prime minister. The crisis ignited after disputed presidential elections on December 27, which the ODM claimed was rigged.
More than 1,500 people were killed in the rioting and tribal clashes which followed.
Al Jazeera
No transfers, rules varsity
Moi university has rejected requests for student transfers sparked by the recent post-election violence in the country. Prof Richard Mibey, the university’s vice-chancellor, said a number of students had requested to be transferred, but reiterated that the university would not yield to the request. “If we grant these requests, then we shall balkanise our institution along ethnic and political lines,” he said.
EU to act on those who stall mediation
The European Union has expressed concern over the stalled negotiations and called for an effective power-sharing mechanism. The EU presidency also warned of dire consequences to individuals who obstructed the process. “The presidency emphasises that a means of effective power sharing in Kenya must be found and that individuals who obstruct the dialogue process will have to face the consequences,” read the statement from the EU presidency in Slovenia, faxed to newsrooms on Wednesday. The presidency expressed concern over the stalling of the talks and supported efforts by the Panel of Eminent African Personalities, led by chief mediator, Dr Kofi Annan. “The presidency is concerned to learn that there remains a serious gap between the Kenyan parties preventing them from reaching a final agreement.”
Kibaki’s coalition proposal over post dismissed
President Kibaki kicked a fresh power-sharing controversy by announcing he was ready to appoint a Prime Minister “in a Coalition Agreement”. In a statement from the Presidential Press Service, Kibaki said he had met with the chief mediator in the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process, Dr Kofi Annan, at his Harambee House offices on Wednesday to thrash out the pending issues, especially in regard to the role of the proposed PM’s office. Kibaki said the pending issues could be addressed under the current Constitution in Coalition Agreement.
Resettlement of Displaced Strains Families, Society
The violence following the disputed elections in Kenya killed more than 1,000 people and displaced an estimated 600,000 more. Many of the displaced have been taken in by their extended families but thousands continue to live in camps awaiting resettlement and some of them have nowhere to go. VOA’s Scott Bobb visited such a camp in Kisumu, western Kenya, and has this report. On a hot afternoon inside a sprawling compound on the edge of Kisumu, children play under a large tent sheltering rows of cots covered by mosquito nets. Meanwhile, adults chat on plastic chairs under a nearby canopy.
“It Will Not Be Machetes and Arrows Any More, But Firearms”
Political analyst Kwamchetsi Makhokha has warned that failure of talks to address Kenya’s political crisis could prove explosive. The East African country is trying to resolve a disputed presidential election that has already cost more than 1,000 lives—and displaced up to 600,000 people. “It will not be machetes and arrows any more, but firearms. Intelligence reports show that people are seriously arming youths in readiness for war. The next phase will be total breakdown of law and order,” he told IPS. “We have seen this happen...Protagonists refuse to negotiate or sign a peace deal to solve a contentious political issue, or ignore gaping social problems...and then it blows up in your face,” added Makhokha, who is based in the capital, Nairobi. His comments come in the wake of talks being put on hold earlier this week.
Annan Talks Shift to Raila And Kibaki
The East African Standard (Nairobi)
Nairobi
Lead mediator Dr Kofi Annan made good his promise to directly engage President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga.
It was a day of intense shuttle diplomacy and building international pressure.
MoreWednesday, February 27, 2008
Resettlement of Kenya’s Displaced Strains Families; Society
Resettlement of Kenya’s Displaced Strains Families; Society
By Scott Bobb
Kisumu, Western Kenya
27 February 2008
(VOA)
The violence following the disputed elections in Kenya killed more than one-thousand people and displaced an estimated 600,000 more. Many of the displaced have been taken in by their extended families but thousands continue to live in camps awaiting resettlement and some of them have nowhere to go. VOA’s Scott Bobb visited such a camp in Kisumu, western Kenya, and has this report.
On a hot afternoon inside a sprawling compound on the edge of Kisumu, children play under a large tent sheltering rows of cots covered by mosquito nets. Meanwhile, adults chat on plastic chairs under a nearby canopy.
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Poor Leadership Behind Kenya Crisis, Museveni Says
The Monitor (Kampala)
By Zephania Ubwani
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday condemned the recent political violence in Kenya and attributed it to poor political leadership and ethnic divisions.
He called on the country’s leaders to find solutions to the crisis through constitutional and political reforms and at the same time agree to the mediation efforts led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
MoreAnnan embarks on final push for Kenya compromise
Annan embarks on final push for Kenya compromise
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
NAIROBI: Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, embarked on a final push to squeeze a compromise from Kenya’s feuding president and opposition leader Wednesday.
Annan, who has been mediating in the crisis, has set up direct meetings with the men to break a stalemate that has kept the East African country in limbo between a power-sharing government and ethnic violence.
Two months after the disputed Kenyan presidential vote, Annan suspended monthlong talks between the two political parties on Tuesday, saying he would personally appeal to their leaders to strike a deal because talks were “turning around in circles.”
The opposition, meanwhile, called off mass rallies that had been planned for Thursday. Past rallies have turned violent. The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, said the move was in response to a request from Annan.
MoreOdinga still optimistic about settlement
(Radio Netherlands)
Nairobi - Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) opposition party, has called off a mass demonstration planned for Thursday. ODM leader Raila Odinga has reaffirmed his conviction that it is possible for the political crisis in Kenya to be solved by negotiation. His comments followed talks with the former United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan.
Earlier this week, Mr Annan suspended his attempts at mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki. Although he is still speaking with both politicians separately, Mr Annan says that it is up to them to find a solution.
Kenya remains at an impasse in the wake of its disputed presidential election on 27 December. The ensuing political conflict has led to ethnic violence in which between 1,000 and 1,500 people have been killed.
Many Kenyan refugees in Uganda too scared to return
MULANDA, Uganda, February 26 (UNHCR) – The security situation may have improved in areas of Kenya hit by post-election violence, but many of the thousands of refugees who fled to Uganda are still too scared to return.
An estimated 12,000 Kenyans crossed the border to escape inter-ethnic violence that flared in parts of Kenya after the December 27 elections. Most are living with locals in border areas, but around 1,980 have been moved to the UNHCR transit centre in Mulanda, some 35 kilometres inside Uganda.
While the influx of Kenyans has all but ended and there is some cross-border movement, many of the refugees – especially in Mulanda – say it is too dangerous to return. Some doubt they will ever go back to their former homes.
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