Kenya's current political unrest was sparked by the irregularities in the national elections where the opposition leader Raila Odinga appeared to have won the poll.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Story by FRED MUKINDA
Kenya Daily Nation
Publication Date: 1/4/2008
The Government’s plan for containing the violence which has hit parts of the country following the disputed presidential elections became clearer Thursday with President Kibaki announcing he was ready for dialogue, and Attorney-General Amos Wako hinting at a formula for power-sharing.
President Kibaki said he was ready for dialogue as soon as “the violence stops and calm is restored for people to engage in constructive and productive talks.”
On his part, ODM leader Raila Odinga supported calls for dialogue. Mr Odinga made the remarks when he met South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu who arrived in Nairobi Thursday.
Mr Wako suggested that a way out can be found even without going to court. One of the ways to resolve the dispute, the AG said, is for a government of national unity to be formed.
Alternatively, an independent group agreeable to all sides could verify the presidential tallies, he said.
Mr Wako also warned that some of the crimes which had been committed border on genocide, — a crime punishable even through the international criminal justice system.
At the same time, three people died and a petrol station and five vehicles were set ablaze in Nairobi as groups of youths went on the rampage after police blocked an ODM rally called to protest against the results of the presidential election.
Groups of youths went on the rampage looting and burning property as they blocked sections of roads leading to Nairobi City centre.
President Kibaki, while addressing his first news conference since the violence started, assured Kenyans that the Government was doing everything possible to ensure security is maintained. Those who commit crime will face the full force of the law, said President Kibaki.
He promised to personally visit the affected areas soon to promote reconciliation and healing. Kenyans were free to settle and own property anywhere in the country, he added.
President Kibaki directed the Commissioner of Police to increase security hotlines for people to report any threats.
The President’s statement was made on the day demonstrations were also held in parts of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu but these were largely peaceful. But in Kisumu, two MPs elect, Shakeel Shabir of Kisumu Town East and Olago Oluoch of Kisumu Town West all of ODM were being questioned by police after they addressed the protesting youths.
Police sources put the death toll from four days of violence at 185 while 155,711 people had been displaced. Majority of the displaced, 120,000 people, were reported to be in the Rift Valley where an operation to evacuate them to safer areas was under way.
Military escort
A convoy of 10 buses left Eldoret Town under military escort headed in the direction of Nakuru as police reported that 260 people had been arrested over the violence.
Calm returned to other major towns in Western Kenya such as Kakamega, Kisii, Bungoma and Busia even though police continued to patrol the streets.
The Electoral Commission of Kenya, meanwhile, gazetted the election of President Kibaki and 207 MPs. No gazettement of MPs was done for Kilgoris, Wajir North and Kamukunji where there were problems.
ODM leader Raila Odinga visited the Nairobi City Mortuary, Masaba hospital and Kibera slum, scene of some of the worst clashes between police and demonstrators. International mediation efforts gathered momentum with South African Anglican Bishop and Nobel prize laureate Desmond Tutu arriving in the country.
Archbishop Tutu held a two hour meeting with Mr Odinga and later said he was still trying to secure an appointment from President Kibaki’s side.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, EU Foreign chief Javier Solana and American Democratic Party presidential hopeful Barack Obama whose father was Kenyan, called for dialogue among the rival camps.
On Thursday, the ODM leaders called off the rally they had planned for Uhuru Park and announced they would gather at the same venue Friday.
Police managed to keep crowds away from the park by blocking routes leading into the city centre.
Uhuru Park itself was a no go zone with officers from the paramilitary General Service Unit and Administration Police placing a human ring around the grounds. Other teams of riot control police battled groups of rowdy youths in slum areas, confining them there.
There was destruction as rowdy youths held protest marches on Juja, Thika, Ngong and Outerring roads.
Also, two men were beaten unconscious and another seriously injured during the violent demonstrations.
Survivors who sustained deep cuts on the head were driven to hospital in Red Cross and St John’s ambulances after being saved by police.
Four fuel pumps were set on fire at the Agip petrol station on Juja road as well as four matatus and a car parked there.
City council Fire brigade rushed to the scene and fought the fire before it could spread and explode the under ground storage tanks. The protesters had lit the super, regular, diesel and kerosene fuel pumps.
Traffic was blocked for hours on Juja road before police managed to drive the protesters back to section 4A of the Mathare slums. The rowdy gangs had also lit huge fires and piled rocks on the road.
Across the valley, there were more skirmishes on Thika road as paramilitary police engaged a different group in running battles.
The group clashed with the officers near Survey area after being blocked from walking to the city centre.
A man was killed at the spot after he came into contact with a drooping live electricity line.
He was among protesters, who had tried to force entry into a nearby Standard Chartered Bank branch.
Police guards at the bank fired in the air to prevent the surging crowd.
Traffic flow along the highway was interrupted occasionally but it was not disrupted for more than 30 minutes.
Earlier at dawn, two bodies had been found in Mathare and Dandora areas. At 9 am, other groups from the Kibera slums engaged police in similar battles on Ngong road.
Ordered closure
Following the violence, police headquarters ordered closure of Mbagathi Way, Uhuru Highway and Kenyatta Avenue, though the Government had pledged all roads would remain open.
On Ngong road, police and the protesters clashed near the Prestige Plaza. Several kiosks on the roadside were destroyed.
Police pushed and managed to hold the crowd near the Kibera DO’s office.
At 2pm, other groups converged on Argwings Kodhek road, 200 metres from Orange House, the ODM headquarters.
A Kobil petrol station was vandalised by the mob that started throwing stones after being confronted by the police.
Meanwhile, the donor community asked Kenyan leaders to put aside their differences and re-solve the impasse.
They said business had estimated that about Sh2 million per day was being lost.
In a joint statement World Bank, Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States warned that the gains made by Kenya in the last few years could dissipate due to the on-going destruction.
“At stake is the pre-election Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of seven percent, rising business confidence, increasing tourism, measurable progress in firm level productivity, significant gains in democratic development and the lifting of over two million Kenyans out of poverty over the last few years,” said the statement.
The donor community said at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, Sh40 billion (about five percent of market capitalisation) was wiped off the value of shares when the market resumed business after the elections, hurting investors large and small.
Now Ghanaian president puts off Kenya visit
Publication Date: 1/4/2008
ACCRA, Thursday
The African Union is yet to agree on a basis for mediation in Kenya’s post-election violence.
Ghana, the AU chair, Thursday delayed a decision to send a mediation mission to Nairobi to try to end violence that has rocked the country since the presidential results of the General Election were announced on Sunday.
“We are consulting a couple more others to see how best we can end the violence,” Ghana’s Foreign minister Akwasi Osei-Adjei told Reuters.
“I’ve also spoken to the Kenyan Foreign minister at least twice already today. The idea is to have a broader consensus in order to make some progress,” said Mr Osei-Adjei, who chairs the council of foreign ministers of the African Union.
Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday that he had spoken to Mr Kufuor by telephone and said the Ghanaian President would be travelling to Kenya today to lead mediation talks.
Mr Brown asked the international community to support Mr Kufuor’s efforts. He suggested a power-sharing government could be set up to end the crisis.
But Mr Osei-Adjei said no decision had been made yet on whether Mr Kufuor would come to Kenya.
Immediate ceasefire
Mr Kufuor had spoken twice yesterday to President Kibaki, whose narrow re-election triggered the past week’s violence.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga accuses Mr Kibaki of rigging the elections and has called on his supporters to reject it.
Mr Osei-Adjei said Mr Kufuor’s primary concern was to secure an immediate ceasefire between supporters of the two leaders.
In Nairobi, Foreign Affairs assistant minister Moses Wetang’ula said the Government had not invited Mr Kufuor and was not aware of his coming.
“We did not invite him and there are no plans to invite him because we did not see the need to do so since the current crisis emanating from the elections was a Kenyan issue that can be resolved by Kenyans themselves,” Mr Wetang’ula said.
The country would make use of the available mechanisms including the East African Community and then the IGAD frameworks that provided ways and means of resolving such issues before turning to the AU.
Finance minister Amos Kimunya was quoted on BBC as saying there was no need for international mediation in a “Kenyan situation”.
However, even as Mr Kufuor’s visit is cancelled Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrived in the country Thursday to initiate peace.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon also called for urgent dialogue between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to end the violence.
The organisation said it was seeking audience with both leaders to come up with a permanent solution.
UN under-secretary-general Anna Tibaijuka Thursday said she has already met Mr Odinga and she was seeking audience with President Kibaki.
Additional reporting by Patrick Nzioka and Jillo Kadida
Kibaki and Tutu back dialogue
ReplyDeleteStory by: PPS
Kenya Daily Nation
Publication Date: 1/4/2008
President Kibaki and South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu today called for an end to the post election violence in the country saying leaders from across the political divide must give dialogue a chance.
President Kibaki assured Archbishop Tutu that he was committed to political dialogue with members of other political parties.
At a meeting held at State House Nairobi today, the President Kibaki and Archbishop Tutu noted that there was urgent need to find a solution to the politically instigated violence. The two underlined the sanctity of human life noting that political protests must never be an excuse for killing innocent people.
They called on political leaders in the country to stop their supporters from engaging in violent acts, saying it was imperative that all Kenyans involve themselves in peace overtures so as to quickly restore sanity to the country.
President Kibaki reiterated that he was ready and willing to begin consultations and reach out to political party leaders to find solutions to contentious issues. He asked all leaders to cooperate, saying they must be seen to provide positive leadership at this challenging time in the history of the country.
President Kibaki said it was the responsibility of the Government to first secure the country and ensure peace in order to allow for structured dialogue. He once again condemned the acts of violence saying it was despicable for some leaders to incite their people to burn a church where children and women were seeking refuge.
Emphasising that sanity must prevail in the country, the President assured that the Government would give priority to any petitions that will be made in regard to the just concluded General Election.
President Kibaki at the same time asked political leaders to respect the country’s institutions, noting these institutions have been the pillars of the country’s progress and stability over the years.
The meeting was also attended by Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi and officials of the National Council of Churches of Kenya led by the General Secretary Canon Peter Karanja and Chairman Eliud Wabukala.
Top US envoy to help in talks
Story by NATION Reporter
Publication Date: 1/4/2008
America’s top most official for Africa is due in Kenya today to help set up talks between President Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
At the same time, ODM have insisted their protest rally today will go on at Uhuru Park, and that the rallies will continue until President Kibaki concedes defeat.
US assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer is expected to arrive in Nairobi later this afternoon to help bring the two parties to a negotiation table. The US and the European Union are understood to be pushing the ODM and President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) to settle for a form of a coalition government as a way of settling the presidential election impasse.
ODM has ruled out joining any government of national unity set up by President Kibaki, and are instead calling for a transitional administration to clear the way for a rerun of the presidential election in three months.
President Kibaki has this morning been in a meeting with South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu and is also expected to hold talks with ambassadors of foreign countries serving in Kenya.
On the other hand, Mr Odinga held talks with the German ambassador Walter Linder at the party’s Pentagon House offices.
Nairobi woke up to an uneasy calm with Uhuru Park, the venue of ODM’s banned rally, cordoned off by paramilitary police.
People and passenger vehicles have been allowed into the city centre and many more business premises opened, but the situation is likely to change once ODM leaders and supporters attempt to get to the venue of their rally.
Kibaki-Raila deal possible, says Tutu
ReplyDeleteStory by NATION Team
Publication Date: 1/5/2008
South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu Friday hinted at the possibility of a coalition government as a way of ending Kenya’s political crisis.
President Kibaki and Archbishop Desmond Tutu after holding talks at State House, Nairobi, yesterday. The Archbishop said the President was willing to consider talks with the opposition on forming an all-inclusive government. Photo/PPS.
Archbishop Desmond, who met President Kibaki at Nairobi State House a day after holding talks with ODM leader Raila Odinga, gave hope for a negotiated settlement between the two parties on the disputed presidential elections.
According to the Archbishop, President Kibaki had indicated his willingness to explore the formation of a coalition government with his rivals.
As he spoke, ODM came up with their own plan which party Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o said could resolve the problem.
The proposal includes the formation of a transitional interim government to take charge of the country for three months and arrange fresh presidential elections.
Diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the dispute was boosted with the expected arrival of the US government’s top African envoy in Nairobi on Friday.
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer was expected in Kenya last evening.
Ahead of her visit, the American ambassador to Kenya, Mr Michael Ranneberger, held a meeting with President Kibaki at State House, Nairobi.
The flurry of diplomatic activity took place against a backdrop of a city coming back to life after days of violent confrontations between police and ODM supporters protesting the outcome of December 27’s presidential elections outcome. The Electoral Commission announced President Kibaki as the winner but the decision was immediately contested by the Orange democratic Party (ODM) whose supporters took to the streets in protest.
The security ring which had been placed around Nairobi City Centre was relaxed overnight allowing free movement of commuter buses, private vehicles and human traffic in and outside the city for the first time since Sunday.
The situation was the same in other major towns and cities in the country such as Kisumu, Eldoret and Kericho where violence has taken place. In Mombasa and Nairobi, there were brief skirmishes between police and some ODM leaders who sought to hold demonstrations but the huge rally planned for Uhuru Park did not take place.
The rally which had been called by ODM for Nairobi’s Uhuru Park failed to take place for the third straight day as police continued with their blockade of the venue.
The ODM leaders met at Pentagon House and announced that they were expecting a US envoy in the country as part of the international efforts to end the crisis.
Prof Nyong’o opposed any proposals for a coalition government preferring a transitional government to pave the way for fresh elections in three months.
At his news conference, Archbishop Tutu, a Nobel Peace Laureate, said President Kibaki was not opposed to a coalition government idea but instead called for an end to the widespread violence in order for negotiations with Mr Odinga to begin.
“The President is not averse to the formation of a coalition with the Opposition,” said the Archbishop.
Speaking after a three-hour meeting with the President at State House, the prelate said the Head of State had agreed to enter negotiations with Mr Odinga for the sake of peace.
And he expressed hope that following the meeting, the country would return to its former peaceful state, which he added, was an example to other countries in the region.
“Both the President and Mr Odinga have assured me that they are willing to enter into talks for the sake of peace in the country. That’s the way to go,” he said at a news conference in Nairobi.
He added: “We are optimistic that violence will soon come to an end in the country.”
At least 185 people have been killed and scores injured in the widespread post-election violence following protests over the release of the controversial election results, which gave President Kibaki a slim win over Mr Odinga.
During the meeting, said Archbishop Tutu, President Kibaki assured him that he would not stop anyone from seeking court intervention if they were not satisfied with the results.
President Kibaki, he added, also promised he will not misuse State instruments of power to intimidate his opponents.
Present during the State House meeting were Dr Nyansako-Ni-Nku, the president of the All African Conference of Churches (AACC) and Dr Brigalia Bam, the chair of the South African Electoral Commission.
Archbishop Tutu reiterated the need for political parties to reach out to each other for the sake of peace. “They should not wait for Parliament to be convened for this initiative to begin. It should be immediate,” he said.
He went on, “These leaders should put their acts together for the sake of peace in the country. It is women and children who are currently suffering.”
The main problem in the country, he said, lay in the fact that no party was willing to concede defeat in the elections.
ODM, he said, should accept that there’s already a governing authority in the country, which was maintaining peace and order.
“This is now not about who won the elections but how the country moves on afterwards. We will keep on praying for the country that peace prevails in these difficult circumstances,” said the Archbishop.
The Archbishop then briefly met Mwingi North MP-elect Kalonzo Musyoka before flying out of the country. Details of what they discussed were however, not, immediately available.
Meanwhile, the Anglican Church is calling for the establishment of an independent commission to recount and re-tally the results of the controversial general elections.
The head of the church Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi at the same time called on President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga to talk in order to avert further chaos in the country.
“We urge the two leaders to open dialogue between themselves and give hope to the people as they sort out their existing differences,” said the Archbishop.
At a news conference in Nairobi Friday, Archbishop Nzimbi said the government should facilitate key political leaders to visit the affected areas in order to restore calm in those areas.
They further urged the government to urgently provide essential relief to the many displaced Kenyans who are in dire need of the basic commodities.
President Mwai Kibaki and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa called for an end to the post election violence in the country saying leaders from across the political divide must give dialogue a chance.
President Kibaki assured Archbishop Tutu that he was committed to political dialogue with members of other political parties.
At a meeting held at State House Nairobi today, the President Kibaki and Archbishop Tutu noted that there was urgent need to find a solution to the politically instigated violence. The two underlined the sanctity of human life noting that political protests must never be an excuse for killing innocent people.
They called on political leaders in the country to stop their supporters from engaging in violent acts, saying it was imperative that all Kenyans involve themselves in peace overtures so as to quickly restore sanity to the country.
President Kibaki reiterated that he was ready and willing to begin consultations and reach out to political party leaders to find solutions to contentious issues. He asked all leaders to cooperate, saying they must be seen to provide positive leadership at this challenging time in the history of the country.
President Kibaki said it was the responsibility of the government to first secure the country and ensure peace in order to allow for structured dialogue. He once again condemned the acts of violence saying it was despicable for some leaders to incite their people to burn a church where children and women were seeking refuge.
Emphasizing that sanity must prevail in the country, the President assured that the government would give priority to any petitions that will be made in regard to the just concluded general elections.
President Kibaki at the same time asked political leaders to respect the country’s institutions, noting these institutions have been the pillars of the country’s progress and stability over the years.
The meeting was also attended by Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi and officials of the National Council of Churches of Kenya led by the General Secretary Canon Peter Karanja and Chairman Eliud Wabukala.
Reported by DAVE OPIYO, ODHIAMBO ORLALE and PPS
Police block second ODM rally
Story by JONATHAN KONUCHE and ODHIAMBO ORLALE
Publication Date: 1/5/2008
The ODM rally at Uhuru Park flopped for the second day after police repulsed its leaders.
Party chairman Henry Kosgey, treasurer Omingo Magara and Ugenya MP-elect James Orengo were the only leaders who tried to access the historic grounds which was fortified by an estimated 100 paramilitary officers.
The three fled on foot to the nearby Serena Hotel with officers in hot pursuit. Their supporters kept at bay by the officers on horse back and with guard dogs.
The chairman announced that they will hold a rally at the venue on Tuesday to pressure President Kibaki to accept their demands.
Earlier, ODM said it would reject proposals to join a Government of National Unity and a recount of the presidential votes.
Secretary-general Anyang Nyong’o said they were not interested in re-tallying of votes as proposed by attorney-general Amos Wako, saying they had lost faith in the Electoral Commission of Kenya and its chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu.
The official announced that they were also demanding an international mediator and a transitional Government for three months before a presidential election.
“If the Democratic Republic of Congo could do it, why not us?” asked the senior Orange.
The secretary-general said they were also demanding that an international mediator steps in to help resolve the impasse.
As he was speaking at Pentagon House in Kilimani area in Nairobi, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was holding a closed-door meeting with President Kibaki.
The South African Nobel Laureate held a two-hour meeting with Mr Odinga on Thursday morning before making an appointment with President Kibaki.
Prof Nyong’o said Mr Odinga was not ready to file a petition in court over the controversial results announced by Mr Kivuitu, who has since admitted that there were irregularities.
Addressing the local and international media at Pentagon House before proceeding to Uhuru Park for the banned rally, Prof Nyong’o said his party had no faith in the Judiciary and accused some judges of being partisan.
Earlier, Mr Odinga held closed- door talks with the German ambassador to Kenya, Mr Walter Lindner, on the post-election violence which has left an estimated 200 people killed and thousands displaced.
But the ODM leader did not address the press and was later seen at Serena Hotel.
The United States Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Michael Ranneberger, was driven to the hotel at 2.30pm but it could not be confirmed whether he met Mr Odinga.
Prof Nyong’o said the purpose of Mr Odinga’s meeting with the German envoy was to demonstrate his commitment to provide a political solution on the standoff that is threatening to split the country.
The ODM official said they were shocked to hear that the Government had rejected mediation efforts by African Union chairman John Kufour, the president of Ghana.
The ODM blamed the crisis on Mr Kivuitu, saying he had let Kenyans down by declaring President Kibaki the winner before the results could be verified.
“We plan to march until our demands are met,” Prof Nyong’o said.
On a statement by Government spokesman Alfred Mutua on CNN that the President was not ready to negotiate with losers, the ODM official reminded him that out of the 210 parliamentary seats countrywide, ODM had 99 while PNU secured 43.
Asked why the worst hit areas in the country by the riots, looting, maiming and deaths were in ODM strongholds, Prof Nyong’o said they were not in charge of the security.