BIG BROTHER

End wrangling and speed up reform — that was Dr Kofi Annan’s message to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday.

In what he described as "honest and sincere" discussions with the two principals, the mediator of Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence asked them to resolve their differences and lead the country to attain desired reforms. He warned the leaders that history would not forgive them if they let the momentous opportunity to slip through their fingers.

"Let us look to the future with hope and determination… I appeal to the leaders to work together — and with the people — to achieve this goal. History will judge them harshly if this opportunity is allowed to slip," he said.

Lauding the resilience of the Kenyan people in emerging from the post-election conflict, Annan told MPs to reach a consensus on the Proposed Constitution and unite in pushing it through at the referendum in a few months’ time. And he made it clear the international community would continue to be engaged in the Kenyan situation.

Reacting to reports expressing dissatisfaction with his frequent interventions, Annan said he "still felt welcome" and was not acting "big brother but a loyal friend keen to help".

But he said seeking solutions to the crisis in which at least 1,200 were killed and more than 300,000 displaced was not an "event" but an "ongoing process."

"I don’t want to behave like a colonial master but we (international community) are here to help and not to interfere or intrude unnecessarily," he said.

Ever the diplomat, Annan’s press conference was devoid of harsh language as would be expected of somebody frustrated by the slow pace of reforms. Instead, he exhorted the principals to work together, using the word ‘consult’ three times in one breath.

"There are many contentious issues in the coalition but I have talked to the two leaders on the need to consult, trust and have confidence in each other. I am confident they will resolve their differences," he said.

The former UN secretary-general was visiting at a time a difference between the two principals over the handling of corruption in Government has caused a storm in Cabinet.

In fact, observers see the failure by the Cabinet to meet for over a month as a direct consequence of coalition partner ODM ministers’ threat to boycott Cabinet meetings. However, the Government has said Cabinet meetings are the prerogative of the President.

The boycott threats followed President Kibaki’s decision to rescind Raila’s suspension of Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his Education counterpart Prof Sam Ongeri over allegations of corruption in their ministries.

Substantial progress

On Friday, Annan said that the spirit of the coalition was to "consult, consult and consult".

Raila recently said that "the other side was not consulting ODM" when making key appointments in Government.

Annan did not explain if Raila raised the issue or sought his intervention in the matter. He acknowledged there was substantial progress in the reform agenda, but noted that discord in Government had slowed down the pace of reforms.

Annan, who said his latest tour was largely dedicated to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, said he met the two principals separately to fit in their busy schedules.

Annan, who flew into a storm as the coalition partners tussled over the Proposed Constitution, urged MPs to rally behind a consensus document to improve its chances at the referendum.

Annan described 2010 as a historic year for Kenya to complete reforms but reiterated that the window of opportunity was closing fast. "The longer the reforms take, the more complicated it will become for elections and politics will cast a long shadow on the process," Annan told reporters at Nairobi Serena Hotel, the venue of the historic peace talks he spearheaded at the height of the 2008 post-poll chaos.

Asked about a February letter to him by the Premier seeking his intervention as the rift in the coalition widened, Annan said he told the two principals to resolve the crisis by themselves.

"I encouraged them to stay united and settle the dispute between themselves. These are divisions in a coalition that have to be managed by the leaders," he said.

There have been efforts by the political class to have Annan and the international community to disengage from the country’s affairs since they were called in to douse the raging fires in the aftermath of a bungled election amid claims of a stolen presidential vote. As late as last month, the President told Kenyans to learn to look for local solutions to problems instead of always seeking foreign intervention.

His remarks followed coalition partner ODM’s decision to "declare a dispute" in the coalition and to ask for the African Union’s intervention.

Speaking less than a week before Parliament passes the Proposed Constitution, Annan emphasised the importance of speaking in one voice on the final stage of the process.

"I urge Parliament to reach consensus and to unite in supporting approval of a new constitution at the referendum," he said.

He also expressed hope that Kibaki and Raila would go out and drum up support for the draft constitution.

He asked Kenyans to be vigilant throughout the reform period. "Kenyans must not allow individual or parochial interests to derail the process," he said.

Genuine reforms

"The economic recovery that has started to take place since the post-election violence is testament to the resilience of the Kenyan people… But this can only be sustained if genuine reforms continue to be implemented and there is cohesion in Government," said Annan.

The former diplomat condemned the intimidation of potential witnesses in post-election violence and extra-judicial killings trials and urged the Government to speedily enact the Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill.

"I am particularly concerned about report of intimidation of potential witnesses and human rights defenders, and of extra judicial killings," he said.

Annan, who turned over the secret envelope to The Hague, said the International Criminal Court would later this month issue a verdict on whether a full-scale investigation would be opened on the Kenyan case.

He said he had not raised the matter of establishing a local tribunal with the two principals as it was up to the Government to decide when to reintroduce the Bill, which was defeated on the floor of the House.

On the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission, he hoped that it would "overcome its current challenges" to get on with its crucial mandate.

"All Internally Displaced Persons must be settled as a matter of urgency," said Annan.