By Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor – Journal

NAIROBI, Kenya – After several weeks of negotiation, primarily mediated by former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, a deal was reached by the parties of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. The deal creates the office of the prime minister, only the second in the nation’s history, as well as two deputies. The creation of the office of the prime minister represented the most significant controversy in the negotiation process. According to the agreement, the prime minister will have executive authority while the President will retain the role of head of state, and the deputies will each represent one of the parties. The cabinet positions will consist of members of both parties that will coincide with party roles in the Parliament.

The next obstacle entails obtaining the approval of the Parliament. Parliament will convene this Thursday to consider legislation and an amendment to the constitution that will give this agreement the force of law. The legislation is being drafted jointly by each party’s legal teams. Both leaders and the Kenyan people expressed relief and hopefulness regarding the future of Kenya

At the same time, the Kenyan government has been deflecting reports that it condoned violence directly after the disputed elections last December. BBC is reporting that meetings were held at the President’s residence with regard to hiring the banned Mungiki militia to act as a defense force to protect the Kikuyu, the group to which the President belongs. The government has denied these allegations as “preposterous.”

As the Parliament works to enact the new power-sharing agreement, these allegations could possibly counter this progress. The allegations also raise suspicions that both sides planned for violence in the post-election conflict. Reports from International Crisis Group and Human Rights Watch are expected, and the Kenyan government is planning a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will likely investigate these allegations.

For more information, please visit:

Africanews.com – Kofi Annan: ‘We have a deal’ – 29 February 2008

BBC News – First Kenya meeting since deal – 4 March 2008 

BBC News – State ‘sanctioned’ Kenyan clashes – 5 March 2008

allAfrica.com – Kenya: State Denies BBC Report On Link to Post-Election Violence – 6 March 2008