Kisumu 31-01-08

KENYAN POLITICAL CRISIS TAKEN TO THE AU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA BY BOTH KIBAKI AND RAILA ODINGA DELEGATIONS

By Leo Odera Omolo

Kenyan political stand off was on Monday this week taken to the meeting of the council Ministers of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
Two separate set of delegations appeared at the AU headquarters, The one representing Delegation of the opposition ODM party which was led by its Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o made a frantic effort demanding admission to the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, while at the same time the Kenya government team led by the country. Minister for Foreign Affairs Moses Wetangula was already there.
 
Wetangula addressing the Council of Ministers session which normally proceed the summit of Heads of State and government that the Kenya’s on-going political crisis was not going to be discussed as an agenda.
 
He, however briefed the Council of Ministers plenary on the general situation in Kenya, the events before and after the elections, the violence that erupted soon after the presidential results were declared as well as the on going mediation being led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan.
 
The ODM delegation was barred and did not get admission to the meeting, it had gone to Addis Ababa with one agenda and that is to demand the exclusion of the Kenyan delegation representing the government of President Mwai Kibaki on the ground that it was in office illegally following the rigged presidential election results.
 
Addressing the press in Addis Ababa Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o urged the African Union leaders to withdraw their recognition of the co-called government of national unity arguing that Mwai Kibaki did not win the December 27, 2007 presidential election therefore any government he purported to head is illegitimately in office.
 
Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o want President Kibaki to be barred from attending the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the member states which is schedules to open this afternoon.
 
President Mwai Kibaki is expected to lead a Kenyan Delegation to the summit which he is also expected to address later this week
 
ODM, which has disputed president Kibaki’s election victory had sent a strong delegation led by Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o to the AU summit, but were denied accreditation since they could not be recognize as a government delegations.
The AU summit will also debate other issues affecting the African Continent, particularly those regarding situation in Darfur and Somali, World Trade Organization and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAS).
 
Although Foreign Minister Wetangula had on Monday made it clear that the current crisis was a Kenyan affairs that could be resolved with assistance from the region. The ODM believes to the contrary
 
The Minister had also called for political goodwill from all parties in Kenya to the mediation process. But this stance, however was contradicted by the chair person of the African Union Commission Mr. Alpha Omar Konare who while addressing Ministers earlier on warned that the on going violence in Kenya could degenerate into genocide
 
Konare had called for the immediate end of violence in the country. He also cautioned the two protagonists to settle the dispute without resorting to a power sharing formular, as this would only lead to more trouble.
 
Most of the Heads of State and Governments from 53 African nations arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday (Wednesday) for the three day talks.
 
Also expected in the Ethiopian capital today is the UN Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon who is expected to address an opening session to this afternoon.
 
The UN Chief had called for political goodwill from parties to the on-going mediation effort under the auspices of the AU led by Kofi Anan and three other eminent persons from Africa.

ENDS
leooderamolo@yahoo.com