Leaders Urged to Find a Quick Solution to Crisis
The Nation (Nairobi)
By Lucas Barasa
Nairobi
President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga have been urged to speedily agree on a solution to the current political crisis in the country.
Chief mediator Kofi Annan made the call as Mr Odinga announced that power-sharing to facilitate constitutional changes was the only solution to the crisis.
Addressing journalists at Pentagon House in Nairobi after a meeting with Mr Odinga, Mr Annan said the talks between PNU and ODM that he chaired required the parties’ leaders support and political will to succeed.
Mr Annan explained that he had also separately met Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and President Kibaki in the morning and discussed the talks and how to move the negotiations forward.
Mr Annan suspended the National Dialogue and Reconciliation talks on Tuesday after PNU and ODM negotiators failed to agree and talks seemed to be going round in circles. The Ghanaian said he was to meet the principals-President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to break the stalemate.
Mr Annan said he was pleased with his discussions with Mr Odinga and that they were to have further discussions on some issues raised from their meeting with him and other leaders. The mediator did not however specify the issues and did not field questions from journalists after the press conference.
He said Kenyans were suffering; living in fear, traumatised, displaced, lost jobs and that a quick solution was needed for their return to normal lives.
“I appeal to those concerned to think of the people and seek speedy solution,” Mr Annan who was accompanied by former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, said.
Mr Mkapa said during their Team of Eminent African Personalities meeting with President Kibaki, they sought his assistance for finding a quick solution to the crisis.
The former President said the issues that sparked disagreements at the talks could still be addressed and that reaching a lasting solution or agreement was possible.
Meanwhile, President Kibaki said he was ready and willing to share “responsibilities of government” with the ODM and to push for a speedy resolution of the issues under discussion.
The president also said that he would do all within his powers to see that the process of national dialogue and reconciliation succeeded and reflected the will of the Kenyan people.
In a statement sent from the Presidential Press Service, the president said the office of the Prime Minister and two deputies would be created under the current constitution, before a comprehensive constitutional review to be done within a year.
On Tuesday, PNU and ODM negotiators sharply differed over the creation of a prime minister post, the holder’s powers and functions. They also differed on appointments to the Cabinet and constitutional changes to accommodate the talks recommendations among other things.
A PNU representative is said to have used harsh words on mediation team before storming out of the meeting at Serena Hotel as the talks hit a dead end.
Mr Odinga said he had been briefed by Mr Annan and Mr Mkapa on progress made and difficulties encountered at the negotiations.
“We as ODM are committed and will ensure the talks do succeed. We will do anything in our power to facilitate progress,” he said.
He pushed for a power-sharing arrangement that would enable the country carry out necessary reforms to avoid a repeat of violence witnessed since the disputed presidential elections results were announced.
Any agreement entered between ODM and PNU, he said, must be for continuation of reforms Kenyans have been yearning for.
He said ODM did not just want to enter government for sake of it, but to provide lasting solution to problems facing the country and conduct constitutional changes.
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