NAIROBI, Kenya – US President George Bush began his six-day five-nation tour of Africa with a warning to Kenya’s Government that it needed to agree to a power-sharing arrangement.  US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is due to visit Nairoibi on Monday to join Kofi Annan in meetings with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. 

On Sunday, the Kenyan government responded that they were not going to bow to pressure.  “We encourage our friends to support, to encourage us, but not to make any mistakes by putting a gun to anybody’s head and say ‘either or’ because that cannot work,” said Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula. 

Kibaki has repeatedly denied any offer for power-sharing, saying it is willing to include opposition members in the government, but only under strong executive leadership of the president.  Negotiations are scheduled to resume Monday with separate meetings with Kibaki and Odinga before a new round of talks on Tuesday. 

More than 1,000 people have died and 300,000 were forced from their homes in the violence that erupted following the December 27 reelection of Kibaki. 

For more information, please see:

AFP – Kenya rejects US pressure over power-sharing deal – 17 February 2008

Reuters – Minister says outside threats won’t end Kenya crisis – 17 February 2008

Washington Post – Bush, in Africa, Issues Warning to Kenya – 17 February 2008