Now that is a sacrifice
written by pndiangui , January 31, 2008

For ODM to drop the call for fresh polls or nothing, then that is a good indicator that the impasse might be resolved.

re: Now that is a sacrifice
written by Obamab , February 01, 2008

For ODM to drop the call for fresh polls or nothing, then that is a good indicator that the impasse might be resolved.

that is an assumption from your part... and incorrect at the least. The items on the agenda as outlined by Mr. Annan include both parties should dropping their hard line stands.

in that light, we can also assume that kibaki and company have also dropped the suggestion of seeking redress on the issue at the courts.

Be objective....

objective?
written by Amir Ibrahim , February 01, 2008

Where is the lack of objectivity in Ndiangui's comment? Did the PNU have any hardline stance? It is easy to try seeing everything that happens in twin-lights, but this just will not do in this case.

There is nothing hard-line about insisting that we use the courts. Your clownish prince is going to the courts to address Livondo's election petition, as are more than 10 other MPs. Hmmmm, but still the country and people like you would like to believe that there is something to be gained from the No Justice, No Peace mantra. Now that is hardline, that is destroying Kenya, daily.

Power sharing
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

I'm sure if ODM is to drop it's demand for a fresh election, then Kibaki will be forced to giving up some presidential powers...to be assumed by ODM if some sort of a coalition is where this negotiation is headed. A more inclusive government, is my opinion, is the direction we should be headed, though I'm not sure how such an arrangement would work in reality.

re: objective?
written by anonymous , February 01, 2008

Where is the lack of objectivity.

There is nothing hard-line about insisting that we use the courts. Your clownish prince is going to the courts to address Livondo's election petition, as are more than 10 other MPs. Hmmmm, but still the country and people like you would like to believe that there is something to be gained from the No Justice, No Peace mantra. Now that is hardline, that is destroying Kenya, daily.

hahah awell the clown has millions behind him look behind you right now and ask whos the idiot?

Clarifying to Obam
written by pndiangui , February 01, 2008

Really all I am saying that I am happy that one party has concessioned its demands, and I expect the other party to concession what probably is of equal measure in impact but it cannot be forced to concession what it thinks will undermine its bargain.
In other words it is up to PNU to weigh the impact of ODM's concession and its probale impact if it wasnt dropped considering the circumstances under what it could have been allowed to occur and also within what degree that it was a fair demand.

I am also for concessioning their hardstance that they cannot have ODM in government, if an all inclusive regime can be formed to shepherd consitutional reforms aimed at creating responsive instutions, devolution and more importantly legistlating on broad-based land reforms. Even more important in the long-term objectives which I believe the constituion reforms will be part of is how to end the inequalities and chronic poverty through a culture of enterprise and equal reward to efforts applied.

ODM govt
written by Stephen Wanyama , February 01, 2008

Actually the president has from the beginning indicated that he wanted the ODM in government, which is why the cabinet list announced was only half-complete.

resident pessimist
written by observer , February 01, 2008

What is the use of a coalition government when the only guiding principles on both sides are greed and deception? How long will such a coalition last before these monsters are back at it again?

resident realist
written by cirdan , February 01, 2008

Observer,

What is the use of a coalition government when the only guiding principles on both sides are greed and deception? How long will such a coalition last before these monsters are back at it again?

Greed, deception, and fear. Both sides now realize what's at stake. And if they didn't, there's now a very unfriendly public (both internal and external) to remind them.

Important thing is peace
written by a guest , February 01, 2008

The most important thing for the MPs now is peace. It has now come to their attention that nobody is safe including them.

ODM govt
written by Roni , February 01, 2008

Actually the president has from the beginning indicated that he wanted the ODM in government, which is why the cabinet list announced was only half-complete.

Then why did his Finance Minister plus others (Dick Wathika) announce to the world that they CAN NOT share power with losers?

Concession my foot
written by aliosema , February 01, 2008

Obambab! (will the real Obama please stand up - there is no resemblance whatsoever, mutter, mutter).

There is no concession (in ODMs "hardline" stance) in their giving up their request for a re-election. As usual ODM is up to something. My guess is that - they knew they lost the election so they called for a recount, then as soon as PNU agreed to a recount they changed their minds. Now they know that after the damage they have done to Kenya they have lost their mass appeal (except for a few blinkered supporters who could not see "wrong" if it stared them squarely in the eye), and so they are dropping their request for a repeat election. We are learning not to believe all ODMs claims - of rigging, assassination, genocide, execution!!!- they are designed to keep Kenyans cowed, in fear, under control.

You'all need to stop sometime. As I said on another occassion you can fool some of us some of the time but you cant fool all of us all of the time. You are in One Damn Massive hole....stop digging....and please stop trying to throw the sand in our eyes.

fresh elections
written by Timothy Wainaina , February 01, 2008

Like Aliosema, I believe we need fresh elections, and we need them urgently. There is no doubt in my mind that the events surrounding the election have cast a pall of illegitimacy over the Kibaki government. This must of necessity be dealt with and there would be no better way of achieving that than by holding fresh general elections.

The ODM says it has Kenyans standing solidly behind its campaign of hatred and exclusion, so let's see where the people stand. The PNU must now ask for a fresh election, with IDPs resettled, with UN soldiers on the ground, with the Electoral Commission freshly constituted, with it given the teeth to ban anyone engaging in ethnic baiting, voter intimidation or incitement, with the UN soldiers ensuring every last Kenyan can vote (especially in Lang'ata) and with this force staying on to ensure there is no nonsense with vote boxes or with the treatment of supporters after the result is announced.

Then as ever, at least for those of us on this side, kazi iendelee.

...
written by Mr. Vikii , February 01, 2008

I agree with Observer. And even the President said it; power sharing is not a solution. It is not

Look at this way; Since the ODM, who are the under dogs by virtue of not being in control of State Resources and the ultimate power being retained by Kibaki, they have insisted on any engagement being very well documented and under the watch of an Internation mediator. Nobel Laurate Prof. Maathai feels the same way---That to 'give faith to Raila that such an agreement will not be trashed in the future', it should be made public with a committment of adherence from both parties. If that happens, who is going to enforce harmony in government thinking? What will prevent malicious parties within government from sabotaging every government project? This is simply unworkable. We tried it in 2002, even with a powerful President and sabotage became the order of the day. Protagonists will always pull in opposite directions. Let us forget power sharing.

The solution lies in reforming our institutions. The ODM should take its rightful position of official opposition without much ado. They should embark on a serious reformation mission since they currently have both the numbers and the goodwill to spearhead the making of a new, acceptable constitution to the majority of the people of Kenya. They can ask the AU and the UN to oversee the process of writing of this new constittion. The ODM can also take advantage of its majority to ammend the ECK and any other laws they feel should be ammended.They have a duty, as the opposition and therefore the people's watchmen, to empower institutions and ensure we are not caught up in this circus again in the future.

Incorporating the ODM in government is setting a bad precedence; That you can buy your way into power by engaging in murder and destruction of people's property. That is not the path we wanna take. I agree with Martha Karua that killers should never be welcome in government.

re:
written by mkosakabila , February 02, 2008

Incorporating the ODM in government is setting a bad precedence; That you can buy your way into power by engaging in murder and destruction of people's property. That is not the path we wanna take. I agree with Martha Karua that killers should never be welcome in government.

With much respect to Karua (more power to her!), I think even Kivuitu himself said that he didnt know who won the election. The incompetent nutjob.
While no one should be threatened into sharing power (which anyway sounds like a suboptimal arrangement) but without hard evidence of who ought to be in government, its hard to rule out power sharing as an option at least in the interim. In any case there might be other arrangemenents and options am unaware of which would be nice to hear about.
Personally, I would have done what you suggested somewhere. I would have conceded to Emilio, grudgingly taken my undeserved seat in the opposition, and proceeded with the task of creating, building and strengthening all those institutions necessary to constrain the presidency. But am not a politician, am a statesman.

re: re:
written by Wuod Aketch , February 02, 2008

Personally, I would have done what you suggested somewhere. I would have conceded to Emilio, grudgingly taken my undeserved seat in the opposition, and proceeded with the task of creating, building and strengthening all those institutions necessary to constrain the presidency. But am not a politician, am a statesman.

Then you would have lived happily ever after.
I would say that if I was Emilio, I would have conceded defeat or reorganized new elections.
It is good all this happened. Some real change had to come after all don't
the saying, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.