ODM Says It is Not to Blame for Stalled Talks
By David Ohito, Ben Agina And Ayub Savula
Nairobi
ODM emerged from the heated mediation meeting and said it was not to blame for the suspension of talks.
The party pointed fingers at their rivals in Government for changing positions and sabotaging talks in a ‘disturbing manner.’
ODM negotiation team leader, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, accompanied by MPs, Mr William Ruto (Eldoret North), Mr James Orengo (Ugenya), Dr Sally Kosgei (Aldai) and liaison person, Mr Caroli Omondi, said lack of political will from the Government caused the suspension.
“We have made substantive progress. However, whereas we thank Panel of Eminent Persons for the process, there are some issues, which have become extremely difficult to solve.” Mudavadi said.
“The most contentious one has been Agenda Number Three,” he added.
“We have been dedicated and committed to the talks. Kenya is facing a situation, which needs a speedy resolution to the crisis. We are very clear over the issues on the table. We know some require both constitutional and legal amendments.” Mudavadi said.
“We are extremely frustrated. The moment we made some ground, a complete reversal was made,” he said.
“As ODM, we ceded ground on our original position that Kibaki should resign. We did this even despite the tribulations that we have gone through because we wanted Kenya to go on and be together,” Mudavadi said at a Press conference at the Serena Hotel. The ODM Pentagon member described as disturbing the happenings at the talks.
“What we have been seeing on the other side, with all fairness, is disturbing. We know that some of the agreements will need change and amendments of the Constitution,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi argued that key changes to the Constitution had been made before without a referendum, in fact, 39 times since independence.
He, however, reiterated ODM’s readiness and willingness to push ahead and ensure the talks succeed.
“It is important to accommodate the agreement in the Constitution. What we don’t see is what ground has the other side ceded.”
Mudavadi said the party had several options it was exploring.
Meanwhile, ODM has summoned a Parliamentary Group meeting to discuss resumption to mass action.
Protest rally
Secretary-General, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said the party plans to organise a rally for Uhuru Park at 10am tomorrow.
Nyong’o’s announcement came a few hours before Dr Kofi Annan announced he was suspending the talks to consult President Kibaki and ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga.
The party had earlier given a Wednesday deadline to take action to protest the slow progress at Serena Hotel.
“We are meeting as MPs tomorrow morning (Wednesday) at Parliament Buildings to issue the final notice for mass action. We have alerted police,” said Nyong’o.
The party official was addressing the Press after attending a party meeting at the Orange House and the Pentagon House.
Nyong’o said he had sent a letter dated February 25, to Police Commissioner, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, informing him that the party would hold nationwide peace meetings on February 28.
Nyong’o said ODM regional co-ordinators had delivered letters to OCSs.
He said the letters were to notify the OCS in each area of the nationwide rallies and to request for security.
“Kindly instruct all your officers to comply with the law and assist the party with our request for security,” the letters read.
He said in Nairobi the party would need security at Uhuru Park if the PG resolves to hold the rally.
Uhuru Park has remained under 24-hour heavy police guard since the announcement of the disputed presidential election on December 30.
Police moved into the park at the beginning of January after ODM tried to hold rallies there on successive days.
Nyong’o yesterday said he had informed the Nairobi City Council that ODM booked the Uhuru Park grounds for mass action.
“We wish to transfer the monies paid for usage of Uhuru Park for the December 21, last year, and which we did not use to pay for the park tomorrow, starting 10am,” Nyong’o said.
Nyong’o said mass action rallies would go on with or without the permission of the police, adding that Kenyans want to demonstrate their feeling for democracy and the delay in the mediation talks.
Next entry: No peace, we die
Previous entry: A disciplined force not immune to ethnic tension