Latest Daily Updates (in brief)

The violence has calmed down. The highways are all open again (I think). Some of the displaced people are still in camps. Others have gone home to their ancestral land (which is too bad, in my opinion). Most schools are open and functioning.

People have been arrested that were suspected to have been involved in the violence. Calls for reforming the electoral commission continue to be voiced. The international community has been quite vocal about many aspects of the whole thing.

For the most part, things have returned to a sense of normalcy. On the downside, thousands have lost their jobs and the economy will suffer greatly. Thousands have been severely traumatized and will suffer for many months to come.

Thursday, February 7

A UN fact-finding team arrived in Kenya to collect information on suspected cases of human rights abuses. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louis Arbor, said: “Truth and accountability are of critical importance in putting an end to the violence and preventing future human rights violations.”

The European Union warned of stern measures against anyone who derails the Annan talks. “Those who will push Annan to fail will pay the consequences,” said Louis Michel, the EU Commissioner.

The UN Security Council asked Kenyan leaders to end the violence, calling it “ethnically motivated attacks. The council expressed concern at the “dire humanitarian situation”. This motivated Kofi Annan to ask both sides to compromise for a fast resolution. The talks, at one point, had turned stormy with both sides declining to cede any ground. The heated exchanges reflected deep divisions between the two sides.

February 25 has been set as the date for electing mayors. Bruising contests are expected in all of the big cities. ODM won the highest number of seats with 998 out of the 2,402 councilors elected, whereas PNU won 322.

Kenya’s leading human rights activist, Mr. Maina Kiai, called for an independent international investigation of the presidential election. His sentiments were echoed by US Congressman Donald Payne, saying, “Let me be blunt. The election results announced by the ECK do not reflect the wishes of the Kenyan people. The people of Kenya voted for change. What they got was the status quo.”

Friday, February 8

Kofi Annan, who continues to lead the ongoing National Dialogue and Reconciliation talks (along with former Tanzania President Mkapa and former South Africa First Lady Graca Machel), emerged from a meeting with Kibaki and Raila and announced, “We have reached far on the political issues. We have agreed that a political settlement is necessary and we’re discussing the details. We are making progress and we are asking for a little patience.”

The ban imposed on public gatherings (after the disputed Presidential election) was lifted. It was said that a review of security in the country had concluded that the situation had improved sufficiently to lift the restriction.

Monday, February 11

The Kenya Tourism Board chief executive stated that Kenya’s tourist arrivals dropped by nearly 90% in the month of January.

Tuesday, February 12

Elected Members of Parliament were briefed regarding the positions adopted by the two mediation teams during the Speaker’s “Kamukunji” (an informal gathering of the lawmakers). Annan stated, “A coalition government is an open option when a country is in a crisis and right now we are faced with a serious political crisis. The two sides come together and commit to sort out issues, such as constitutional reforms and then organize an election. The country is deeply divided… and our duty is to bring the parties together to work closely to heal the underlying problems.”

Two suspects, who were being held by police in connection with the recent killing of Mugabe Were (one of the two MPs recently murdered), were released.

Wednesday, February 13

The negotiation teams, along with Kofi Annan, started a 48-hour retreat away from Nairobi. The purpose was to thrash out the thorny issue of possible power-sharing.

Kenya’s National Council of Churches admits that they failed the country at its hour of need by practicing partisan politics leading up to the recent election. They asked their followers for forgiveness.

Britain’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Adam Wood, states that his country does not recognize Kibaki as Kenya’s president. He went on to say that the current Kenyan government does not reflect the democratic will of the people.

Thursday, February 14

The UN gives the green light for its staff to resume operations in the Kisumu area. It had been classified as a “no-go zone” since early January, due to the severe violence that region experienced.

Just prior to leaving for his tour of Africa, US President George W. Bush states that his country supports the efforts of Kofi Annan to end Kenya’s crisis. He said, “There must be an immediate halt to violence, there must be justice for the victims of abuse, and there must be a full return to democracy.” He expressed optimism that the mediation talks will bear fruit.

Friday, February 15

The mediation teams’ talks ended in acrimony. Both teams flew back to Nairobi to discuss the latest developments with their respective leaders. Annan, briefing the media, stated, “I will stay as long as it takes to get the issue of a political settlement to an irreversible point. I will not be frustrated or provoked to leave. It is in the interest of the men and women of Kenya, the region, Africa, and the international community to have a new government.”

Annan went on to state that it’s normal for negotiations to go at a slow pace because of the fears that the two parties hold against ceding ground to the needs of the other. “I know you have been waiting to hear that we have a deal. I understand that you are eager, but against this let me advise patience. We are at the watershed and normally it is frightening to take some steps. I am confident that, in the interests of Kenya and its people, the parties will show the wisdom, flexibility, and foresight to conclude an agreement.”

So far, the two teams have agreed to the following:

1. The creation of an Independent Review Committee to investigate all aspects of the 2007 presidential election and make findings and recommendations to improve the electoral process.

2. A political settlement is necessary to manage and implement expeditiously a broad reform agenda that will address the root causes of the crisis and deepen and broaden Kenyan democratic foundations, including:

a. Comprehensive constitutional reform

b. Comprehensive electoral reform

c. A truth, justice, and reconciliation commission

d. Prosecution of perpetrators of the violence

e. Respect for human rights

f. Parliamentary reform

g. Police reform

h. Legal and judicial reforms

i. Commitment to a shared national agenda in Parliament for these reforms

3. Long-term issues and solutions are fundamental to a viable long-term solution to the crisis. These include:

a. Consolidating national cohesion and unity

b. Land reform

c. Tackling poverty and inequality

d. Tackling unemployment

e. Reform of the Public Service

f. Strengthening of anti-corruption laws

The main outstanding issue is that of governance arrangements. The parties discussed the matter intensively and have developed a number of options.

The talks are going slower than everyone had hoped. They ended on Thursday in a deadlock, but resume today. Citizens are hopeful for a resolution, as the pain of the murder sprees are still very fresh in everyone's minds.