Maathai dismisses Musyoka's peace team

http://allafrica.com/stories/200801200038.html

Kenya: EU's Mediation Efforts Now Offer Hope

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
20 January 2008Posted to the web 20 January 2008
Sunday Standard TeamNairobi
A flicker of hope that negotiations could start despite the standoff between the Government and ODM came with the arrival of European Union commissioner for Development, Mr Louis Michel.
Michel met both ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, and President Kibaki.


Mitchell first met Raila at the Serena Hotel then proceeded to State House on Saturday afternoon.


Michel's visit comes ahead of the expected arrival of former UN chief Kofi Annan on Tuesday to troubleshoot the stalled negotiations.
The process ran into trouble a fortnight ago when the two sides failed to even come to a face-to-face session under the mediation of Ghanaian President and African Union Chairman, Mr John Kufuor.
Before Kufuor's arrival, ODM showed readiness for negotiations by calling off mass action, which had been scheduled ahead of the process.
But there are looming hurdles that could scuttle it again.
ODM announced a fresh programme of protest, which starts Monday in Kisumu, with an interdenominational funeral service for people killed in post-election violence in the town.
The party rolled out a programme that will include the funeral services and mass action countrywide on Thursday.
ODM has also rejected Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka as the head of a committee appointed by President Kibaki to facilitate dialogue.
Raila said ODM was not aware of the committee's constitution.
He described Kalonzo as incompetent and least qualified to negotiate with ODM.
"We want a credible team, not people who have always undermined our position. Kalonzo is not that person," said Eldoret North MP, Mr Wiliam Ruto.
Raila said: "We hope talks start with speed and after meeting Kofi Annan, we shall agree on the number of delegates to negotiate on our behalf."
Ruto said ODM would also look at possibilities of sending a delegation to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Ruto further clarified that ODM did not talk about sanctions against the Government with the EU, arguing that it was not in its domain.
Nobel Peace Laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, also dismissed Kalonzo's committee.
"Kalonzo was a competitor with Raila, and I do not think the ODM leader will listen to him. What will Kalonzo tell Raila or his lieutenants, knowing he is perceived to have undermined their cause for leadership?" posed Maathai.
Elsewhere, Kalonzo kicked off his role of leading dialogue on the Government side by meeting members of the Africa Forum for Peace Mission.
The peace mission members, who paid Kalonzo a courtesy call at his Jogoo House office, include former African presidents Mr Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Mr Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania) and Sir Ketumile Masire (Botswana).
Kalonzo expressed optimism that the country would emerge out of the crisis united.
He said the Government appreciated the role of the international community in spearheading dialogue.

Chissano said: "We are here to assure Kenyans that they are capable of finding peace, and they should not despair."
PNU lauded the Kalonzo's commission, saying the basis of any meaningful dialogue and reconciliation is truth and justice.
A statement signed by Director of Programmes, Mr Moses Kuria, and a national co-ordinating committee member, Dr Josephine Ojiambo, said that due to the competitiveness of the poll, it is natural that there is bound to be deep emotions and feelings.