Kenya is at risk of Renewed Violence

By:  M. Brandon Maggiore
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – International Crisis Group (ICG) issued a report stating that Kenya is at risk of further violence if the political crisis is not resolved soon. Kofi Anan has been mediating talks in Narobi; however, an agreement has not been reached. There are armed groups preparing for attacks in support of both President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition.

Kenya’€™s opposition party will launch nationwide protests in one week. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Professor Peter Anyang Nyongo, accuses President Kibaki of derailing the gains made in negotiations. The ODM accuses President Kibaki of failing to respect both the wishes of the majority and the mediation led by Anan.

President Kibaki and affiliated parties will not accept a power-sharing deal that violates Kenya’s constitution. A solution to the political impasse proposed by President Kibaki’€™s rival, Raila Odinga, would create a sharing of power in which President Kibaki would remain head of state and Odinga would be the head of the government. In response to this proposal, Kenya’€™s foreign Affairs Minister, Moses Weangula, said, “Agreeing to enter into a quick fix for the sake of Raila is a betrayal of the people of Kenya and the constitution. Legitimizing an illegal deal that violates the constitution will mean that we will be playing in creating an illegal office of the prime minister.” The international community views a power-sharing agreement as the most viable solution to the political situation and supports such a plan.

Kofi Anan responded to discouraging reports asserting that the negotiations are going well and are on track.

Raila Odinga was first elected a Member of Parliament for the cosmopolitan constituency of Langata, Nairobi in December 1992. He retained his seat in general elections in 1997 and 2002.

Over 1,000 people have been killed and nearly 500,000 people have been displaced since President Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 2007 presidential election.  Human Rights Watch researchers have documented instances of extra judicial killings, excessive use of force by the police, and attacks based on ethnicity.

The ICG report warns that the risk of ethnic and territorial conflict and a failure of the democratic process in Kenya “would have sever[e] consequences for the whole of east Africa…”€

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Kenya ‘at risk of fresh violence’ – 21 February, 2008

Human Rights Watch – Kenya: Justice Key to Securing Lasting Peace – 17 February, 2008

Raila2007.com – About Raila Odinga – accessed 20 February, 2008

Africanews – Kenya opposition back to streets next week – 20 February, 2008

Africanews – Kenya: Kibaki rejects power sharing principle – 20 February, 2008

allAfrica.com – Kenya Talks Facing Uncertainty – 21 February, 2008

Author: Impunity Watch Archive