Negotiations With Kibaki

The Pentagon,

Before The Pentagon goes into any negotiations with the loser, it is important that the latter agree on the following;

That events on the ground since 27th December, 2007, are as the result of an irregular tallying of Presidential Election Results from some constituencies,
The subsequent announcement by the ECK chairman of the incomplete and rigged Presidential results before all parties agreed to them drove the country into a state of chaos and anarchy.
These events cannot therefore be divorced and addressed separately ODM cannot take blame or responsibility for the on-going chaos as it is clear where the blame lies.
In the event that ODM ends up on a negotiation table with out-going President Kibaki and his cronies, here are some ideas that may be incorporated into the basis for the possible talks.

The results of the Presidential Polls held on 27th December, 2007, be declared either Incomplete or Null and Void.
The declaration of Kibaki as President for a second term must be declared Null and Void following revelations by ECK Chairman that he had acted under duress and that he did not know whether Kibaki won the elections. Kibaki's continued presidency can only be based on the 2002 mandate, whose official term has come to an end.
Depending on how satisfied the different teams are with the existing data especially that which was already tallied and found to be acceptable to all concerned parties, polls should be repeated at the 48 constituencies that were found to be highly irregular. If this is not agreeable, a Timetable for fresh Presidential Elections should be agreed on.
In either case, ECK be disbanded immediately and a committee to conduct the polls should be set-up immediately and should include international election experts. If the ECK must be reconstituted, let that be done as per the earlier IPPG recommendations. NOT Kibaki appointing all the members.

If ODM takes this route, we must not let Kibaki hijack this process and he must as part of the negotiations, accept to take full responsibility for the consequences.

George Nyangweso
Minnesota