Evans Kidero,Rachel Shebesh teams close to striking reconciliation deal
Updated Friday, September 13th 2013 at 22:37 GMT +3 |
| Rachel Shebesh is whisked away from city hall after she was slapped by Governor Evans Kidero (Photo: Evans Habil/Standard) |
By MOSES MICHIRA
Nairobi, KENYA: Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is expected to meet unspecified demands this weekend to settle the storm surrounding his alleged assault of County Women representative Rachel Shebesh.
According to a source privy to talks between the two sides, two meetings have been concluded between representatives of the two city politicians in a bid to unlock the embarrassing clash that has dominated national chatter.
“Yes it is truere conciliation and mediation process is underway and the teams picked by both parties are already in talks which will be finalised this weekend,” added the official, who preferred anonymity.
Close aides of the two leaders confirmed to the Standard on Saturday of a third meeting scheduled for either today or tomorrow where a final deal is expected to be struck.
At the two past meetings, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and Mrs Shebesh’s husband, Frank, presented demands set out by the MP to Governor Kidero’s team. “Kidero wants this matter settled within the weekend,” said our source, adding, “We are definite about striking a deal.”
Kidero is represented by his close allies, a Mr Okello and the governor’s Chief of Staff George Wainaina.
Hopes that the deal would be struck are based on the outcomes of the previous meetings where Sonko has played the role of chief mediator. Different sources confirmed the past meetings and the pending settlement. It is expected that Kidero, a wealthy businessman in his own right, will agree to Mrs Shebesh’s demands and close an embarrassing episode that has left him “deeply disturbed”. “Kidero is under pressure to get this matter out of the way. He is deeply disturbed,” said the aide, in reference to a physical confrontation where Kidero is alleged to have slapped Mrs Shebesh last week.
The planned settlement, if successful, would be a major relief for Kidero, who has just negotiated the return to work of striking city staff after a two-week standoff.
While they remained on strike, lives were lost at the County-run Pumwani maternity facility and garbage was overflowing the roads.
Impeachment motion
His longest-running headache of a petition challenging his victory in the March 4 elections was also quashed last week, though the news did little to cushion him from the attacks following the confrontation with Shebesh.
The governor, who also alleged that Shebesh had assaulted him in his lower abdomen before he reacted, has been roundly criticised by a cross section of the public and women’s rights organisations for abuse of office. It is not clear whether the deal to pacify Shebesh would alter the course of events relating to the governor’s possible ejection from office.
Members of his County Assembly have since sought to debate a motion that would have Kidero impeached, though the outcome of their deliberations would not be final.
Quelling the storm
The Senate Committee would still have to sit to ratify such a decision should a majority of the members of the assembly vote to have Kidero step down.
He is, however, optimistic that a deal with Shebesh, if reached, would quell the storm that is the censure motion against him set for debate at the Nairobi County Assembly. “The County Assembly members will feel appeased,” the governor said in a televised interview yesterday.
Kidero, who appeared tense during the interview at local television station spoke of his a deep regret over the incident, and wanted the matter dealt with so that they can all proceed with service delivery.
Unfortunate incident
“We have had a very good working relationship with the honourable Shebesh, well until the unfortunate incident happened last week which is really something that should never have happened, it is something I regret very much with Shebesh who is my good friend, with whom we hope to get back to where we were before.” He went on: “It is my every intention to do what it takes so that my relationship with her gets back to where it was, this is very very regrettable issue. And such a thing happens, people get angry and hurt, people get annoyed.”
While it was not possible to determine what Shebesh’s demands were, her husband was quick to point out earlier last week that he was “ready and willing” to forgive Kidero though he would have been happier to come to his wife’s defence.
“If he is man enough to apologise to me personally, I will forgive,” Frank Shebesh said, setting the ground for the round of reconciliation talks that have been held since.
In the incident that put the governor to the test, Mrs Shebesh led more than 30 striking workers to Kidero’s office at City Hall leading to a brief but heated verbal exchange.
Some members of the Assembly have alleged that two of their colleagues were also assaulted in the incident, in their arguments supporting Kidero’s impeachment.
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