Solution to the Present Crisis in Kenya

Dear Kenyans Everywhere,

1. Please read and circulate by print or electronic means

2. Forward copy of letter to fellow Kenyans everywhere in the world

3. Personally take this letter to Mr Mwai Kibaki

4. Send a copy of the letter back to State House, Kenya, as your petition

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January 6, 2008 Time: 5.30 am (Kenya Time)

Dear Mr Mwai Kibaki,

We have once more endevoured to write to you directly to since WE strongly believe that your flexibility in the negotiations about the current situation in Kenya will go a long way in helping avert the crisis that has befallen us, Kenyans.

Mr Kibaki, the identification, admission and recognition of the source of a crisis is a significant step toward its comprehensive resolution.

WE would therefore like to draw your attention to the following points for your consideration in the negotiated resolution of the present crisis but especially with a view of identifying the source of the crisis and in so doing settling for a course of action that will demonstrate to Kenyans that something comprehensive has been done to address their grievance:

1. WE are writing to you as fellow distressed and tormented Kenyans, with Kenyan unity in mind, with the whole of the African continent in focus.

2. It is reassuring that you have admitted that a rerun of the presidential elections is possible ‘in principle’. WE believe that this admission is your recognition of the electoral irregularities which point to the overwhelming evidence that the current ‘presidency’ is constitutionally incredible.

3. The offer through Dr Alfred Mutua that you would only allow a rerun of the elections ‘if the courts ordered it’ is not particularly convincing because of the constitutional incredibility of the current ‘presidency’.

4. Ascendancy to the presidency through irregular electoral means is not constitutional.

5. WE Kenyans are in an extraordinary situation and extraordinary circumstances need equally extraordinary solutions.

6. It is therefore not helpful to evoke the constitution and the authority of the courts in the resolution of the crisis arising from the questionable ECK announcement about the results.

7. WE strongly believe that your flexibility in negotiations without evoking the authority and initiative of the courts as a necessary precondition would go a long way in helping find a solution to the present crisis but more importantly, ensure that the Kenyan society remain intact, undivided by unnecessary misdirected anger and violence that WE have sadly experienced.

8. The results of your flexibility may not be constitutional, may not be ordered by the courts, but would be very pragmatic, effective, and will go a long way to help the restoration of YOUR CREDIBILITY, YOUR IMAGE, the TRUST of Kenyans, but more importantly help the restoration of goodwill among Kenyans.

9. This goodwill was so evident before and during the elections. WE as Kenyans experienced this goodwill; WE witnessed it and now WE are unable to understand the face of the Kenya WE have seen in the last few days.

10. Mr Kibaki, OUR security is not just the presence of police and the military on the streets. Lasting security is derived from the general goodwill among the citizens of a nation. Kenyans have much of this goodwill, and we believe it can still be nurtured through addressing their very genuine grievance—the flawed presidential election.

11. This is not the time to be focused on or evoke the authority of the courts, nor the constitution; this is an opportunity to try to remedy an obvious grave error. The remedy might just repair the much that WE still have in common as Kenyans.

12. Finally, Mr Kibaki, we would like to reiterate the FOUR advantages of your flexibility in negotiations:

1. It will help YOUR CREDIBILITY AND IMAGE AS A NATIONAL LEADER

2. It will help address the SOURCE of the grievance of your fellow Kenyans

3. It will significantly help the UNITY of Kenyans that is so necessary especially now

4. It will significantly help HEAL the divisions that have been extraordinarily pronounced by the irregular and unconstitutional presidential elections.

This is a crucial opportunity to LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE, NOT THE CONSTITUTION, NOT THE COURTS.

WE thank you for the opportunity to read this letter and hope that you will read it with an open mind and think of Kenya in the next 50 years, not the next 5 years.

We have a long way to go, and our children have even a longer way to go.

This is our most sincere appeal to you as a fellow Kenyan and a leader.

TAKE THE INITIATIVE and SHOW LEADERSHIP.

Yours very most sincerely,

VERY DISTRESSED, TORMENTED AND CONCERNED KENYANS

(Munyao, Githinji, and Okelo )