Rice expressed impatience at the speed of the negotiations to end the political crisis which has crippled Kenya since last year's general elections, mediated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. "I frankly believe that the time for a political settlement was yesterday," she said.

Kenya's Justice Minister, who is also Gichugu's member of parliament, in response to Rice has said:

We will not bow down to dictation.We can listen to all our friends. We can engage with them. But the decision ultimately will be ours.

Rice, as Annan in the past, has said that she is not dictating to Kenyan negotiators on what to do. However, the American government, through Rice, have suggested an increase in economic aid as an incentive for the political parties to reach an agreement. Unlike the European Union which has threatened to stop aid, Rice has said, according to the New York Times, that she will not discuss sanctions, threats and or provisions that might punish Kenya's leading politicians. A few weeks ago, the US government has said that a list of 10 members of parliament will be banned from entering the US for their role in Kenya's post election violence. 

In a separate press conference, opposition leader, Raila Odinga would like the negotiators to work on the creation of a premiership. The Standard reports that ODM is calling for a separation of the state and the government. Apart from the office of the prime minister, their plan sees the establishment of two deputies. They also called onto US Secretary Rice "to establish a new constitutional order and pave way for fresh presidential elections within a feasible period."

From Uganda's The Monitor, Newton Kinity suggests the following issues be addressed to solve Kenya's political crisis:

Good structures which will stop or prevent the rampant corruption; laws that will provide a good criterion of electing competent and accountable leaders; land and property policy that will prevent land conflicts in future, immediate release of the four reports of the commissions of inquiry on corruption and land grabbing; election procedures that check rigging and laws which protect both local and foreign investors in Kenya. 

In other news, Business Daily reports that the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) resumed services to Western Kenya on Monday. Railway lines had been badly damaged by rioting youth, but have now been repaired according to the report.  Booby Loun, the head of operations of RVR, says that they have incurred Sh387.5 million in losses, and have so far spent Sh12.5 million to repair the damages.

While relative calm continues to prevail across the country, Nakuru town is still under curfew as police administrators feel the town is still tense and would break out into violence.  

Richard Segal, the Fixed Income Strategist for Renaissance Capital, writes on the volatility of the Kenyan shilling. He observes a bearish market where investors are hesitant to trade in the Kenyan shilling. "At KES 63.5/USD, the currency is off 15% from pre-election levels and stands at an 18-month low, " he says. Segal warns that if the shilling does not stabilize Kenya's economy will soon feel the effects in other asset markets.

Philippe de Pontet, an Africa Analyst with Eurasia Group also writes on Kenya's economic situation. Pontet forsees a deep gridlock between the opposition and the government that will delay the country's economic development. He anticipates that "the Safaricom IPO and the issue of the sovereign bond will be delayed forcing the government to borrow more domestically to plug its 5.3% budget deficit."

Business Daily reports that the sale of the Safaricom IPO will be made as soon as a chair to the Treasury's privatisation commission.