|
|
Kenya Government Ready For Dialogue With The Opposition
Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki has named a team of seven members of his cabinet to meet with the opposition. In a statement released today, vice president Kalonzo Musyoka will lead the team, while tough talking justice minister Ms Martha Karua and Chirau Ali Mwakwere are among the members to represent the government. The country's attoney general and a senior official from the ministry of justice have also been included in the team.
The opposition have not reacted to the move but since they have been agitating for round table talks with the Kibaki team, it is expected that they will accept to meet them. |
An earlier attempt by the Kibaki team to arrange for a meeting was snubbed by the opposition because it lacked international mediation.
The mediation team members among them former heads of state in Africa, are already in the country. The former UN boss Kofi Annan, who is widely expected to head the mediation talks, has not yet arrived in the country. The naming of the Government team has put to rest doubts about Mr. Kibaki's willingness to dialogue with the opposition.
The Kenya security situation was made worse by three days of mass protests called for by the opposition. More damage to property and loss of life was reported yesterday. At least eight protesters died and many more were injured after day long running battles with the police. There have been reports of further chaos today, 18th Jan 2008, in Eldoret and some parts of the capital city Nairobi.
The opposition had issued a statement earlier today, suggesting a shift from mass action to economic sabotage. They cited the award winning local bank Equity, the Kenyatta family owned Brookeside milk processing factory and City Hopper bus company as some of their main targets. The mode of implementation was however not made public. All the businesses are apparent beneficiaries of Government patronage.
The Kenya security situation prompted the EU to threaten aid suspension to the country. The EU parliament and other development partners are watching closely as events unfold in the country.
The country will look up to the latest initiative to bring sanity to a country that has undergone possibly the worst humanitarian crises since it attained its freedom from Britain in 1963. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in camps after being displaced from their homes in ethnic evictions, in the rift valley.
Both sides of the divide agree that Mr Kofi Annan, whose impeccable international diplomatic record speaks for itself, has what it takes to solve the crises.
|
|
