Light at the end of the tunnel
written by Eshipepi , January 08, 2008

At last it seems likely that the two leaders will come to an agreement or some form of arrangement as we await a peaceful resolution.
Many thanks to both the kenyan and international community for applying the right kind of pressure, LSK for striking off Kivuitu from its roll and to the kenyan army for exercising the ultimate discipline in this situation.
May the loss of lives of the 486+ kenyans not be in vain. RIP

The rally should go on
written by Murage , January 08, 2008

The rally should have gone on. Raila should be careful not to be coerced into a deal that subordinates him to Kibaki. The only language Kibaki and his kind understands is force and one successful rally would have energized Raila as he goes to the negotiation table with the people who stole the election.

But let me stop crying over the milk Raila has already spilt. So this is what he should tell Kibaki.

Simple: KIBAKI TOKA.

By agreeing to the meeting, Raila has proven the naysayers wrong that he's bent on causing mayhem in the country. In fact, Raila has been more presidential in his approach in the stalemate than Kibaki and his PNU crew, which doesn't seem to have a sense of appropriateness. Take an example of Alfred Mutua's statement on CNN that "we don't negotiate with losers."

Besides the evil spirit contained in the statement, Mutua seemed not to understand who the real losers are in this case. If Mutua was really serious about his statement, he would have found another person to read the statement accusing Raila of ethnic cleansing to the press instead of that loser Prof. Kivutha Kibwana.

Loser is one word you don't associate with ODM especially after the whooping it gave PNU forcing it to steal the main prize. Now PNU is acting like a thief who has stolen your TV but is inviting you to watch it with him.

Maybe someone needs to slowly define the word loser to Mutua. He's embarrassing our nation.

Back to Raila, like I said before digressing, he should accept nothing that subordinates him to Kibaki. Kibaki can continue to be the 'legal' illegal president and that's it. Raila on the other had should be allowed play the role of a co-president, a position that'll give him a handle in every executive decision.

This will be hard for Kibaki to accept but it's the only way that'll ensure Kibaki doesn't misuse his powers to pull stunts like placing more plants in crucial places to help him gain an advantage over Raila and ODM.

Fresh elections should be called within three months. The election should be supervised by equal representatives of the parties, international observers and the press.

Kibaki should leave
written by Wuod Aketch , January 08, 2008

Making Kibaki co-president will not help this country. If it is for three to six months then sawa, but not for the five years. Kenya will lose a lot in the second case - there will be blockages. Kibaki will do this country a great favor if he resigned. If he stayed then we need to redefine the word president.
Even if the constitution is to be rewritten, Raila should not accept a post where he subordinates Kibaki - I agree with Murage above, on this.
What is appearing after the last negotiations with Madame Frazer, is that the new government will be formed as par performance in parliamentary elections . This in my opinion gives the ODM the occasion to overhaul the whole malfunctioning system - ECK, judiciary, the constitution, the presidency ...

interesting...
written by mainat , January 08, 2008

who said kibz wasn't decisive?
re michuki, one needs pals in his cabinent and a strongman to make sure roads get built pronto.makwere is a complete waste of space, if a coast person was needed better mungatana. surprised he didn't leave any room for "bringing" in ODMers who may go for a vote of "no confidence" next week.
how will this play out to the international arena? not too well as it gives RO an opportunity to open his mouth stuff to pour forth...

...
written by Huzuni , January 08, 2008

For those who still believe Kibaki has any time for national interest or peace just look at his cabinet.......where will ODM feel comfortable to scrap.....youth affairs, social services, cooperative development?

My God is the man just crazy.....education...finance....works ....local government already back to central province.....perfect power sharing.....

...
written by aeichener , January 08, 2008

Good to see that the government now consolidates, and that parliament will be convened soonest. But Kibaki should have thrown out Michuki altogether; the old goon has become a liability on wheels.

The naming of the cabinet has multiple meanings, and thus seems a circumspect step, though not without risk:
- consolidation of power
- firm alliance with ODM-K in order to form a government of national majority
- leaving open several portfolios in order to enter now into talks with other MPs and maybe even with ODM dissenters
- Raila is sidelined
- if necessary, Kibaki could stll step back, while the VP continues until new elections. This door thus remains open; actually, even a bit wider open
- if new elections were held now, Kibaki would bag Eastern entirely and the majority of Rift Valley; he very likely would be able to make up even for those who were disgusted with the rigging and would thus out of protest against him.

Alexander

Give peace a chance
written by Miharati , January 08, 2008

there is clearly an unreasonable obsession with Raila being president even though the election results showed otherwise. Exit polls showed that Kibaki was ahead. Unbiased opinion polls showed the race too close to call. The perception being created by ODMers is that Raila won. There were election irregularities in both parties strongholds, and after an overnight scrutiny of the ballots by all presidential candidates agents, the consensus was to announce the results. Ask Orengo (ODM's agent) if you do not believe me. A false perception, no matter how many times it is repeated, still remains a falsehood.

According to the views presented by Woud and Murage, it seems that the people in 4 provinces that elected Kibaki are less Kenyan. The unwavering false belief is that Raila won The election results (though flawed) showed otherwise. Kibaki is kenya's legal president.

...
written by emmo opoti , January 08, 2008

From the last link in the article, the one titled Obama calls Kenyan politician, we see the reasons for today's developments. Link here.

Bishop Cornelius Korir spoke in western Eldoret, scene of the fiery massacre of Kikuyu. Eldoret and surrounding areas have seen an exodus of Kikuyus since. The violence across the country has killed some 500 people.

``The way the attacks were managed seems to me very organized,'' Korir said as the U.S. envoy, Jendayi Frazer, toured the region Tuesday. ``No, it did not seem spontaneous to me ... It seems it was well planned.''

Frazer, the top American envoy to Africa, says the vote count at the heart of the dispute was tampered with and both sides could have been involved.

``Yes, there was rigging,'' Frazer told The Associated Press Monday in Nairobi.

``I mean there were problems with the vote counting process.'' She added: ``Both the parties could have rigged.''

She said she did not want to blame either Kibaki or Odinga.

I think this is what has given Kibaki an advantage and the cheek to pull this off. When you shout thief, make sure your hands are clean.

Post Cabinet
written by Benjamin Mwadime , January 08, 2008

It seems clear that both sides tampered with results - the difference is one side was shouting from the rooftops whilst the other was quiet.

Interesting that when Karua suggested at KICC before the results were announced, that all consistuencies be reviewed, the ODM group refused and insisted that the review should only involve their areas of concern.

Sadly the legacy of the violence especially in the Rift Valley will likely recur in 5 years time. It is imperative that the culprits who incited the hate and aided or abetted these actions be brought to book. Sweeping this under the carpet as has happened before will not give confidence to over 200,000 displaced people to go back. I hope Mr Kibaki's government will do so - the stability of Europe would not be what it is today if the primary protagonists in Germany had not been prosecuted in the Nuremberg trials.

...
written by a guest , January 08, 2008

Kibaki is rearranging the deck furniture on the sinking Titanic.

re:
written by a guest , January 09, 2008

(Unnecessary entire article quotation deleted. Ed.)

C'mon, we all know where America stood all along. Jendayi was sent with a message that a re-run should not happen, and Raila should not lead.

If Raila were to hold presidency, there will be no free loading of Muslims to Gitmo. Most Kenyans have no idea that under Kibaki, several Kenyans have been shipped to Gitmo to help Bush in progressing his 'war against terrorism'.

...
written by anonymous , January 09, 2008

fyi... talk to anyone who grew up in Eldoret will tell you the violence happened every 5 years.. the goverment needs to tackle with this situation...

...
written by a guest , January 09, 2008

The violence occurred in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 when a certain politician was involved and still is involved in the local politics.

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written by Liisa , January 09, 2008

Kalonzo - has be accepted?

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written by nini , January 09, 2008

kalonzo so accepted.. i subscribed to Ktn and so him being given hugs by his peeps.. this man knew what he wanted and went for it... now I see that Raila and team are still going for the talks on friday..... I guess its stay tuned for the next episode... Kenyan politics is so full of drama yet predictable