Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:35:47 -0500

BOLD MOVE BY KIBAKI AND ODINGA

I am NOT a scholar of the Kenyan constitution, just a concerned citizen who wants my peaceful country back the way it was. I know our country will never be same after the suffering of our people, regardless of their tribal affiliations. The solution to the election crisis lies with Mr. Kibaki, Mr. Odinga and Kenyan people. The eminent mediators can help, but they alone will not solve this problem. I strongly believe there will be no vote-recount, new election, unity or transition government implemented as a solution. Mr. Kibaki will not step down and Mr. Odinga will not be the President. The current mediators who are now shuttling between both Kibaki and Odinga will not bring these two leaders together in solving this crisis because each man is firmly trenched in their position.

For the survival of this country this is what I suggest Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga should do: They should ignore their tribes, party and supporters regarding who won or lost the election. Instead they should convene the current parliament to amend the constitution to create the position of Prime Minister. For those interested in solving this crisis, please see (Draft Constitution of Kenya 2004). Chapter 12: Part 1 and 2 of the draft will still keep Mr. Kibaki and the current Vice President in office. In part 3, the Prime Minister post and the Cabinet will be created. Here I suggest the Prime Minister post to go to the party with the majority members in the parliament. These are not normal times. Our country is in peril and this change in the constitution must be made quickly to keep Kenya from falling apart. The leaders and the people of this country must take bold actions to accommodate the supporters of both the current government and the opposition. Name-calling and finger-pointing on who did what in this election will not bring peace or healing to this country. There is enough blame for everyone to go around. No politicians or tribal groups are innocent of the problems this country is going through today.

I am challenging both Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga to put the interest of this country above their personal interests or egos by convening the parliament to amend the constitution and accommodate everybody who voted in this election. I shudder to think that this country will turn into another Congo, Zimbabwe, Somalia or Sudan. This crises is Kenya's problem and it must be solved by Kenyans. Tomorrow Mr. Anan and his group will go back to their countries and 40+ Kenya tribes will remain here with these problems. Kikuyus, Luos, Kalenjins and other tribal groups in this country are not going anywhere, so we must all learn to live with one another as we have before. I am urging both Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga to think of their political legacy. How will history judge them? Why not be the first African statesmen to bring a country together, instead of just another group helping to tear one apart. The question that Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga should ask themselves: Will this country be better than it was before Dec. 27th if they cannot compromise their positions?

Dan Magero Orao

Michigan, USA