Let AU mediate, British envoy urges

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Let AU mediate, British envoy urges

Story by JEFF OTIENO
Publication Date: 1/6/2008
Political divisions in the country following the flawed General Election require international mediation, UK foreign secretary Mr David Miliband said.

Mr Miliband said the UK and its allies, namely, the US, Europe, Commonwealth and the African Union were for the establishment of a strong and credible mediation process.

“The political divisions in Kenya mean an international presence is vital. The leadership of President Kufuor of Ghana, the current President of the African Union is therefore critical in our view,” said the foreign secretary.

He urged all political leaders in Kenya to welcome Mr Kufuor’s offer to play a key role in resolving the crisis adding that the government ought to facilitate his journey to the country as soon as possible.

Mr Miliband’s stand contradicts that of the government which has so far resisted foreign mediation insisting that the eletion-related problem was a national affair.

He said the source of the violence and the continuing instability was the dispute over well-documented concerns about irregularities in the election process.

“Serious questions about the conduct of the count stand in the way of the formation of a stable Kenyan government that commands the confidence of the Kenyan people and is able to unite the country. It is vital that the democratic process works and is seen to work,’’ Mr Miliband said.

The foreign secretary said the recent events in Kenya had caused enormous concern in the UK as well as around the world, generating major diplomatic efforts.

Mr Miliband said UK had three goals, namely bringing an end to the violence, ensuring concerns about irregularities in vote counting are given full vent through peaceful political and legal means and generate a political process capable of bringing an electorally divided country together.

He said though violence had reduced in the urban areas, most notably Nairobi, there was uncertainty about rural areas where fierce violence occurred.

The foreign secretary said large numbers of people had fled their homes, citing the UN estimates of 180,000. DFID has since given £1m to the Kenyan Red Cross for humanitarian assistance, particularly in the Rift Valley area.

Mr Miliband said political leaders must work together in a way that reflected the will of the people.

He said Kenya had suffered needlessly from violence.