Rice Faults Leadership in Crisis
The Nation (Nairobi)
By Anthony Kariuki
US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has said the failure of leadership is responsible for the delayed solution to Kenya’s crisis.
She has also stated that there can be no excuse for further delay and warned that both sides’ relationship with her government hinges on their cooperation to reach a political compromise.
his is the gist of her message to Kenya’s feuding parties, in a statement released by the US Department of State today.
And last evening, Mediator Kofi Annan suspended the peace talks so as to engage the two principals, President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga, to take responsibility and move the mediation process forward.
Dr Rice has noted that Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the eminent persons have been engaged in intensive efforts to reach a political settlement agreeable to both parties.
But, while supporting those efforts and noting that some progress has been made she remains disappointed, despite having extracted commitments from President Kibaki and Raila Odinga to work out a structure for real power sharing.
“I am disappointed by the failure of leadership necessary to resolve all the remaining issues. There can be no excuse for further delay. There can also be no excuse for violence, and those responsible must be held accountable,” she says.
She says that the United States has urged a political solution from the outset of the crisis and the voice of the civil society, churches and of the Kenyan people has now made her join her voice to that of Kenyans.
“Since the outset of the electoral crisis, we have urged a political solution acceptable to the Kenyan people. The crescendo of peaceful voices continues to mount from a broad range of civil society organizations, churches, and directly from the Kenyan people on the need for a political solution. I join my voice to that of the Kenyan people.”
She reiterated the commitment of President Bush and the US Government to support a political solution and provide assistance for the country’s reconstruction.
Read Condoleezza Rice’s statement
Dr Rice has a stern message for the two sides: Their legitimacy rests on their cooperation to reach a political solution.
“I want to emphasise that the future of our relationship with both sides and their legitimacy hinges on their cooperation to achieve this political solution.”
She added: “In that regard, we are exploring a wide range of possible actions. We will draw our own conclusions about who is responsible for lack of progress and take necessary steps.
“We will also exert leadership with the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and others to ensure that the political solution the Kenyan people deserve is achieved.”
The current crisis was sparked by disputed presidential elections results on December 2007, which the opposition says was rigged.
The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says its leader Raila Odinga won the poll but was denied victory while President Kibaki says he won fairly and points to the announcement by the Electoral Commission of Kenya that he took more votes.
The violence that followed Kibaki’s victory has killed 1,000 people and has displaced an estimated 350,000 others.
Ongoing peace talks led by Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan have so far failed to yield a political solution. The talks have since been suspended.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is in the country in his capacity as AU Chairman and is expected to holds talks with Annan, President Kibaki and Raila Odinga on Wednesday.
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