Saturday, March 01, 2008
How Annan magic worked to seal Kibaki-Raila deal
Story by: SATURDAY NATION Team
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Details of the dramatic events leading to the signing of a peace deal that ended two months of Kenya’s political turmoil emerged on Friday as the country sprung back to life. The deal, which took two days of intense diplomacy by chief mediator Kofi Annan and Tanzanian
President Jakaya Kikwete, was struck after the two protagonists — President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga — ignored the views of hard-liners in their camps to give Kenyans a coalition agreement that would see the Opposition share power with the government. At an exclusive meeting in Harambee House, both leaders ceded ground to arrive at a power-sharing agreement that created the position of a prime
minister who will exercise some authority on government.