Kibaki, Raila and Marende meet Annan

Friday, March 26, 2009

As part of his fact-finding mission to Kenya, Dr Koffi Annan Yesterday met with the three key players in Kenya’s coalition government: President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Parliament Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Annan is the Chief broker of the power sharing deal on February 28, 2008 that effectively put a hold to violent clashes that followed Kenya’s disputed presidential election. He met with the key signatories behind closed doors, but it is believed the talks centred on the perceived attempts by both parties to derail the coalition.
Annan, who has been in Kenya since Tuesday, is expected to address a news conference today at Serena Hotel, Nairobi, where he chaired the inter-party talks that led to the signing of the deal 2 years ago.
"Annan has been visiting Kenya for the last four days to chair meetings convened by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa,’’ his public relations consultants announced in a media advisory. "Annan has also met with stakeholders in the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process."

Dr Annan’s visit coincided with the start of debate in Parliament on the Proposed Constitution and reports the International Criminal Court is about to rule on whether the Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo should start investigations on 20 prominent Kenyans accused of committing crimes against humanity.

Annan’s is said to have expressed the international community’s rising impatience with Kenya’s Government for not setting up a local legal mechanism to try suspects of minor post-election crimes.

The Presidential Press Service reported: "President Kibaki reaffirmed the Grand Coalition Government’s commitment to implementing institutional and legal reforms and was currently focused on the constitution review process." It added: "Citing the tabling in Parliament of the draft constitution for debate, the President expressed confidence that Kenya is on the threshold of achieving a new constitution."

Meeting Annan in his office at Treasury Building, Raila assured him the Proposed Constitution would sail through Parliament, arguing this was a defining moment for Kenya.

Raila told Annan the war against corruption can only be won "if it is fought from top to bottom and not the other way".

The PM, whose decision to suspend two Cabinet ministers over graft allegations in their ministries was rescinded the same day by the President, assured Annan the war on corruption was still on and the Government is committed to winning it.

Raila assured Annan the Interim Independent Electoral Commission had been given resources to register all eligible voters in the country, adding that even the question of shortage of time to carry on the exercise did not arise.

Annan met Kibaki at his Harambee House. Kibaki assured Annan "of the Government’s total support for the constitution review process, whose climax will be the holding of a national referendum later in the year." While Annan commended the Government for the progress made so far towards national cohesion and encouraged leaders to support efforts to create a stable and prosperous nation.

Annan also went to Parliament to meet Speaker Kenneth Marende with a message of support for reforms. Marende reiterated he had no doubt the process was Kenya’s single most important project undertaken since Independence.

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