KNDR – Panel of Eminent African Personalities – Press Statement

PRESS STATEMENT

Panel of Eminent African Personalities

Nairobi, 29 April 2008

A useful and constructive session of the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation took place today. It was chaired by Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi in the absence of Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, who is in Addis Ababa on an African Union related mission.

The session dealt with Agenda Item Four on long-term issues and solutions; the Commission of Inquiry on Post-Election Violence; the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission; the National Ethnic and Race Relations Commission; the draft Coalition Agreement; and the Constitutional Review Bill.

Critique of the KNDR Committees & Commissions

CRITIQUE OF THE MANDATE OF COMMISSIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE KENYA NATIONAL DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION (KNDR)

(Justin N. Kimani, Chege Muli and Moses Kirama)

Comments

1. It is acknowledged that the Independent Review Committee’s work is urgent in order to address the public anxiety regarding the December 2007 disputed presidential elections and has therefore, to work separately from TJRC which will concentrate on the historical aspects of the intension. However the Commission of Inquiry on the Post Election Violence and the Independent Review Committee’s methodology and indeed all the other Commissions involve the same Kenyan public for inquiries. This will aggravate and infuriate the publics and therefore erode confidence and co-operation of the interviewees.

2. In addition the mandate of the commission of inquiry in the Post Election Violence tends to overlap with the mandate of the IREC which covers all aspects of the 2007 presidential elections as enumerated under key activities of IREC.

3. In view of the negative public attitude towards commissions and committee’s of inquiry it is prudent to consider harmonizing the two mandates into one the findings of which should report to the TJRC

4. Whatever number of commission there are, they should be seen to complement the crucial post conflict peace-building stage of Reconciliation. This Reconciliation process has already been seriously jeopardized by the intransigence of the principal’s attention whose has been perceived by the public to concentrate on the power sharing, to the disregard and therefore, neglect of the continued suffering of the IDPs, who are looking up to then for Reconciliation and Settlement. The conduct of these commissions and committee’s will affect the future of the Reconciliation Process, especially with regard to giving of evidence, offer of repentance and forgiveness, which are critical to the success and sustenance of Reconciliation and long term peace.

5. It is critical that the range of skills, backgrounds and professional expertise of members of the commission include educated and experienced peace-building professionals.

6. The commissioners themselves should undergo peace workshops and seminars to acquaint themselves with concepts of conflict transmission and experience in other parts of the world especially Africa. Deliberate and concerted effort must be made to the public to instill lost confidence and trust on commissions due to the action on the part of the government on the findings. In this connection, assurance should be given on respect for commission’s time lines and implementation of recommendations made.

Local reaction to power sharing

Local reaction to power sharing

deal between govt and the

Opposition

 

With the breakthrough in the Kofi Annan led mediation talks following the post-election crisis in Kenya leading to the signing of the final deal on power sharing modalities between President Mwai Kibaki and ODM’s Raila Odinga on Thursday, February 28, 2008, PeaceNet Kenya collected views from across Kenya on the immediate reaction from

the communities and how such a deal could be achieved at the grass root level.

 

See the reactions here

Annan Agreements – 4th Agreement signed 28 Feb 08 – Coalition Agreement & National Accord & Reconciliation Act 2008

Kenya National Dialogue & Reconciliation Team

4th Agreement signed by Gvt/PNU & ODM on 28 Feb 08

1. Coalition Agreement

2. National Accord & Reconciliation Act 2008

Full Document — Annan Agreements – 4th Agreement signed 28 Feb 08

Annan Agreements – 3rd Agreement signed 14 Feb 08

Kenya National Dialogue & Reconciliation Team

3rd Agreement signed by Gvt/PNU & ODM on 14 Feb 08

Full Document — Annan Agreements – 3rd Agreement signed 14 Feb 08

Annan Agreements – 2nd Agreement signed 4 Feb 08

Kenya National Dialogue & Reconciliation Team

2nd Agreement signed by Gvt/PNU & ODM

Full Document — Annan Agreements – 2nd Agreement signed 4 Feb 08

Annan Agreements – 1st Agreement signed 1 Feb 08

Kenya National Dialogue & Reconcilliation

1st signed document by Gvt/PNU & ODM

Full Document — annan-kndr-1st-agreement-1feb08.pdf

Civil Society Responses to the Kenyan Crisis

Special Brief on Civil Society Responses to the Kenyan Crisis from the Kenya Human Rights Institute.

Kenya has rapidly descended into a state of near anarchy following the announcement of flawed presidential election results at the end of the December 27, 2007 General Election. The violence flared up following the December 30th declaration by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) that Mwai Kibaki, the Party of National Unity (PNU) presidential candidate, had won the presidential election amidst protests of irregularities by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of Raila Odinga. Reports by local and international election observation groups, human rights groups, the media and statements by the ECK itself suggest that the presidential election was fatally flawed. With Kenya teetering on the brink of chaos, the search for both domestic and international solutions to the crisis continues. However, armed groups as well as the police continue to perpetrate serious acts of violence and human rights violations.

Nigerian diplomat jets in as peace talks resume

Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji from Nigeria is expected to arrive today to assist former UN chief Kofi Annan in the mediation efforts. Mr Adeniji is a former Nigerian minister and UN official. And Government and ODM negotiators yesterday held an informal meeting to prepare for the official resumption of the mediation talks today.

Government representatives, Cabinet ministers Martha Karua, Sam Ongeri and Moses Wetangula, and MP Mutula Kilonzo met ODM’s Musalia Mudavadi, William Ruto, James Orengo and Sally Kosgei in the absence of Mr Annan. And the African chapter of the Human Rights Watch has said a political agreement in Kenya was a step forward, but politicians must take immediate steps to ensure accountability for human rights violations for further negotiations to build lasting stability.

ODM’s proposals on how to solve crisis – 19 Feb 08

ODM’s proposals on how to solve crisis

ODM has proposed a two-step process to settle the political crisis even as the mediation team resumes talks this morning. Party leader, Mr Raila Odinga, said they had proposed to the US Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice, the establishment of a Government structure that would reconcile the nation and drive comprehensive constitutional and institutional reforms. On the Government structure, Raila told a news conference last evening that they had proposed a separation of State and Government functions that would see the establishment of the office of the Prime Minister and two deputies. In the proposal, the President is to be the Head of State and the Prime Minister head of Government.