Kibaki’s meeting with Tutu - Kenya Election 2007
Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa arrived in Kenya yesterday for a brief visit at the invitation of the All African Conference of Churches in the hope that the Archbishop’s considerable prestige and respect could help to kick start the dialogue between the Raila and Kibaki camps. Archbishop Tutu is highly experienced in conflict resolution having chaired the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee amongst other initiatives.
Raila’s camp, which has been calling for international mediators from the first day of the dispute, was more receptive towards the Archbishop’s trip and Tutu had a two hour meeting with the ODM leadership yesterday where they put their explained to him their position.
It seemed that Tutu would leave the country later today without speaking to Kibaki as Kibaki’s camp insisted that the problems facing Kenya were internal problems which could be solved internally and there was no need to involved foreigners. However, this morning there was some movement on that position from within the Kibaki camp and Archbishop Tutu managed to get a meeting with Kibaki and his core team which ended a little while ago.
A reliable source who was in that meeting has just shared some news. The good news is that Kibaki seemed willing to negotiate and was “flexible” on a variety of issues. The disturbing news is that members of Kibaki’s camp who were in attendance namely Martha Kaura (Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs), Danson Mungatana (Assistant Minister in the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs) and Moses Wetengula (Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) were adamant that the poll result was not in dispute and that Kibaki’s presidency should not be up for discussion at all.
I repeat again that the violence facing Kenya was sparked by a political dispute. If we do not secure a resolution to that political dispute then the unrest in the country will continue. The political dispute revolves around the fact that nobody knows who won the presidential election. Until Kibaki’s camp recognise that it is hard to see a way the political dispute can be resolved.
This also raises the question of what seems like Kibaki’s increasingly isolation from the situation on the ground by those around him. I asked a friend the other day, “Why do you think Kibaki is hiding in StateHouse?” My friend replied, “Is he hiding or is he being hidden?” Indeed.
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Entry Filed under: Election07, Kenya, Politics
17 Comments Add your own
1. Ms K | January 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
This is not the first time reports have come out that Kibaki is being controlled by forces around him, and I think many now realise that.
However, the buck still stops with him, there can be no excuse for his severe abdication of duty, especially his loud silence in those last few days when the situation was at its worst.
That’s why i insist that this thing is bigger than Raila and Kibaki.
For me it is completely unacceptable to let these people get away with rigging the elections and what Kivuitu did is completely unforgivable.
Our focus must soon turn to our institutions because this can never happen again.
2. Kenya Diaspora | January 4th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Apparently Raila is calling for another election. Kibaki is said to be controlled by the coterie of people around him and your report supports that. Its not real surprise. The fact of the matter is, there should be a full recount or another election.
I agree with MS. K this is bigger than Raila and Kibaki its about the future of democracy in Kenya. The days of rigged elections have passed. This is not the 70’s.
The following must happen
1. Those persecuting Kibaki supporters must stop now
2. A full, open, democratic election must take place with International Observers. Now.
3. KK | January 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
It amazes me that the government continues to take a hard line as far as the validity of the election results. What does that do for the democratic process when you indirectly rub it in peoples face that their vote does not count people who are trying to believe in democracy. Love for kenya should overshadow political ego’s and personalities. May be the political elite need to spend more time in the streets of the country and see how this is affecting a group of people who seem almost helpless while they and their families are safe but the healing process cannot start if Kibaki & his crew are still in denial that the election process was seriously flawed. What ever happened to taking it back to the people & letting them decide.
4. Ishara | January 4th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Why There Can Be No Recount: Form16A’s Stolen From ECK
Matters were further complicated for ODM when the controversy that has dogged the outcome of the presidential poll took a new twist amid reports that the crucial Form 16As kept in a safe at the KICC by some returning officers had disappeared.
There was tension at the ECK operation centre on Wednesday morning after some returning officers openly protested that the Form 16As, which they had kept in a Cabinet at KICC, had gone missing.
“We came here this morning and they told us that the forms had been stolen,” an official told The Standard as tempers flared.
But officers from the General Service Unit immediately ordered journalists to leave.
“Are you media people, please I beg of you to leave the building, I have been instructed to send you away from here please,” one officer said.
On Wednesday, ODM issued a raft of demands that, it said, would lead to the unlocking of the impasse over the disputed presidential elections.
The party has called for the establishment of an international mediating body to examine the documents pertaining to presidential tally that put President Kibaki ahead of its candidate, Raila.
Mudavadi led Pentagon members in announcing that ODM had drawn up a list of individuals to represent it in such a body should it be established.
Reading the party’s report on the just-concluded General Election, Mr William Ruto, the Eldoret North MP-elect, urged the international community to facilitate the appointment of the entity to help in resolving “this crisis and stop the mayhem and growing anarchy”.
He said: “Peace can only follow logically from the restoration of justice.”
5. Ssembonge | January 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I don’t think Kibaki’s handlers would dare contradict him. Just because he is not stating his thoughts doesn’t mean that he does not have an opinion. Me thinks, he’d rather live it to his handlers to do the dirty talking. If anything, their powers descend from him and are therefore echoing his sentiments.
Let me ask you? Wouldn’t you surround you surround yourself with people who speak and defend you?
Let us do away with the thought that our president is a weakling under seige who can’t dare speak for himself.
6. mzalendo | January 4th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
luks like the gvmt is now open for new vote….gova spokes man just announced.
me thinks thats a step into foundatiion of peace
7. Magaidi | January 4th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Ultimately it is Kibaki who chooses who should be around him. I want to have some optimism that this meeting with Archbishop Tutu is a way forward but I get the ‘been there done that’ feeling. Once Kibaki retreats to the State House it’s the same old rhetoric he will be spoon-fed by the so-called advisors. I don’t necessarily agree with Ssembonge. We have so many examples of his inability to show leadership when he is most needed. He is a remarkably inept leader who would rather let his cronies run the country to the ground in the name of defending him.
8. Anonymous | January 4th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
You know, when I take a step back, stop reading the papers or news, and just relax, I fail to see why we should not have the best of both worlds. I mean come-on, Kenya as a nation has achieved a lot in the last 5 years. That is one thing Kibaki has to be congratulated on. Raila as a person stands for the well-being of the poor. Why can they not both work together? Sure this last few months and esp this last week we have witnessed the worse of both sides. But I will take the last five years over the last week. Kibaki and Raila, you together can solve Kenya’s problems.
Additionally, most of Kibaki’s close allies lost. Do we not realise that they will not reappear in the new government. Does this not give Kibaki a chance to break lose from the noose that tied him down. He has been a good business leader for Kenya. Raila can be a good social leader. Together we can have a Kenya we all dreamed about.
300+ lives lost in a week is nothing something we can be proud of. However, we can be proud of the fact that we as a nation can come out stronger from this. Those families torn apart will hopefully receive the social and economic help they deserve.
I say lets move forward, stop the violence and this clamour for a new poll. We focus of building a Kenya we all dream of and deserve. Raila you have the majority in parliament. Now you can be a statesman and pass all those well meaning bills so this is not repeated in the future. Power can come in many different forms, not just through the presidency.
9. jay | January 4th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
You guys, watch this M.K who is ‘guardian’ of our justice and constintutional affairs. There is an inexplicable streak in her that makes my blood sort of pass cold thru my body. She is a major player in this whole saga. It is very unsettling that she occupies such a position. Do not mistake my comment to mean that i am against women and their empowerment… No let me correct myself, no, women ARE already empowered not by men but just by virtue of who they are. It gives me great joy to see the strengths and assets of a wise and insightful woman creatively weaved into a process to the point that even men stand up and salute in respect and not fear. If I am wrong it will be right for me to accept correction and proceed in the light of the truth about her. But as for now… this one…. ah ah. There’s just something that does not right about her. Its as though manipulation and control is written all over her. May time quickly tell
10. jay | January 4th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
These people that many keep saying are around Kibaki and in charge of their facalties, who are they an can you give a profile of them for knowledges sake?
11. sm | January 5th, 2008 at 1:38 am
The returning officers who switched off their mobile phones and disappered to ‘cook’ results, plus Kivuitu himself must be held accountable for being used to plunge this country into anarchy. Those evil people around Kibaki who have done everything to disrupt democracy must be unmasked and made to pay. The psychophants who are the unsworn ministers of this fradulent government who preach hatred against Raila and who think Kenyans are small kids that can be cheated by their nasty propaganda must be shamed, ignored and voted out in the next election. ..and Kibaki must go
12. EM | January 5th, 2008 at 2:06 am
I have a great idea. Let us have the re-election for president only.
THIS TIME ELECT CHARITY NGILU ONLY !!
Neither Kibaki nor Raila are for the people. They are all about greed, power, money , property and more power!! Ngilu has been the voice of reason in the multiparty politics and is able to get a working coalition. Let us take a 180 and work with her. Raila and Kibaki have taken us to the brink and they are now lost!! They are too selfish to think about the wananchi. Just about ME- THE PRESIDENT!!
Their children are out of the country as they set the country on fire with their selfish acts and hot mouths.
13. em | January 5th, 2008 at 2:09 am
NGILU for PRESIDENT
14. minkia | January 5th, 2008 at 4:54 am
I wonder what are the chances of people on both sides of this dispute to hold a PEACE rally, for no other reason than to say what is going on isn’t what they have in mind when they say democracy. Or are we past the point of peaceful revolutions? Everyone in Kenya is suffering, maybe more directly and fatally for some. From all the news and info I have yet to here a call to rally the citizens on something i am sure would be agreeable for most which is to put an end to the inhumanity. Lack of democracy included, but lose of life especially. “No Raila, No Peace”?Maybe. How about “No Peace, Not much of anything else (at least nothing good) Again thanks for the news from home and the images, hope things get better for every Kenyan
15. minkia | January 5th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I wonder what are the chances of people on both sides of this dispute to hold a PEACE rally, for no other reason than to say what is going on isn’t what they have in mind when they say democracy. I hope we are not past the point of peaceful revolutions.. Everyone in Kenya is suffering, more directly and fatally for some. From all the news and info I have yet to here a call to rally the citizens on something i am sure would be agreeable for most which is to put an end to the inhumanity. Lack of democracy included, but lose of life especially. “No Raila, No Peace”?Maybe. How about “No Peace, Not much of anything else (at least nothing good) Again thanks for the news from home and the images, hope things get better for every KenyanOops, spoke too soon, Mrs Ngilu hats off to you, may you have many followers
16. Richard Mufumbya | January 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Kibaki wake up your tribal links are so deep that you dont qualify as a nationalleader.What is happening in kenya is your own making.Kikuyulising elections and then stealing them,what on earth would you expect to be the out come.
You caused it now dont leave others solve your problems see
http://www.IMCWorldwide.org” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.IMCWorldwide.org
Jacofoods.blogspot.com
17. Richard Mufumbya | January 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Kibaki wake up your tribal links are so deep that you dont qualify as a nationalleader.What is happening in kenya is your own making.Kikuyulising elections and then stealing them,what on earth would you expect to be the out come.
You caused it now dont leave others solve your problems see
http://www.IMCWorldwide.org” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.IMCWorldwide.org
http://www.Jacofoods.blogspot.com
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