Fresh stalemate as Government rejects Annan’s proposals

Just when a solution to the current Kenyan crisis was
in sight, the government delegation to the peace talks
has adopted its earlier hardline stance that it would
not form a coalition government with the opposition
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which won majority
of the parliamentary seats at last year’s general
election. During a briefing session held for members
of parliament yesterday, Mr Koffi Annan—the chair of
the Panel of eminent African personalities seeking to
bring peace to Kenya—noted that “a coalition
government is an open option when a country is in
crisis and right now we are faced with a serious
political crisis. The two sides come together and
commit to sort out issues such as constitutional
reforms and then organize an election”.

But the statement immediately drew angry reaction from
the leader of the government negotiating team, Ms
Martha Karua, who is also the Justice and
Constitutional Affairs minister. “My team is alarmed
at some serious inaccurate statement made by Your
Excellency at the briefing of parliamentarians today.
Namely, you stated that the dialogue team had a greed
to have a transitional government for two years after
which we shall hold presidential elections, which
position has been discussed and agreed upon”, Ms Karua
told Annan. But her reaction took observers by
surprise, given that this matter had already been
discussed.

The reaction now puts in doubt the government’s
commitment to the peace process. It may be recalled
that whereas the ODM has climbed down from its earlier
hardline position, the government side has been
looking for every excuse to stall the talks. Last
week, the government delegation rejected Mr Cyril
Ramaphosa, a renowned South African mediator, arguing
that he had close connections with ODM leader Raila
Odinga. As the mediation team went into retreat
yesterday, it was doubtful that a solution to the
crisis would be found within 72 hours as Annan had
proposed. As the ODM continued to push for a coalition
government, the government side insisted that ODM
should take up its slot as the official opposition in
parliament.

Meanwhile, US President George Bush and UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon are set to discuss the
Kenyan crisis on Friday. It may be recalled that the
European Union and other western countries have warned
of serious consequences to anyone trying to derail the
Annan-led peace talks.