Raila: We’ll use other means to stop Kibaki

Raila: We’ll use other means to stop Kibaki


Thur, January 10, 2008
By NATION Reporter
Last updated: 59 minutes ago

ODM leader Raila Odinga Thursday said alternative methods will be employed to stop President Kibaki from returning Kenya to the ‘dark era’ of dictatorship.

He said the lawful means included mass action, which his party called off due to international mediation efforts that now seem to have collapsed.

He regretted the efforts as an “unfortunate waste of time”, but said the international community has now seen the many faces of President Kibaki.

He spoke as ODM secretary-general, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, announced the failure of the mediation at a press conference at Pentagon House.

“It is with great regret that ODM announces that the international mediation being conducted by AU chairman and Ghana’s President John Kufuor has failed,” he said in a statement.

Extensive consultations

ODM said they were prepared to enter into an agreement with President Kibaki, but “he refused to sign, saying he knew nothing about the agreement nor had any contact with those who were negotiating on his behalf.”

The announcement, after a lengthy meeting between Pentagon members and 100 ODM MPs-elect, said the agreement was prepared after extensive consultations involving the representatives of Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga under the facilitation of World Bank country director Mr Collin Bruce.

The American and British Ambassadors to Kenya were also kept informed and provided with the contents of the agreement. President Kufuor was given the agreement when he arrived on Tuesday and it came as a shock that President Kibaki denied knowledge of what was going on.