RAILA TELLS KIBAKI: You’re bungling it

RAILA TELLS KIBAKI: You’re bungling it

http://kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=2&articleId=463

Updated on: Monday, February 04, 2008 Story by: By Frederick Odiero and M’mbolo Bulemi. ....................................................................................................................................................................................
ODM Leader Raila Odinga has warned of a major political storm should President Mwai Kibaki mishandle the current political crisis that threatens to throw the country to the dogs.
Odinga cautioned the head of state to exercise extra caution while handling the already tense situation in the country. Without elaborating, Raila said the current political crisis could explode into a deadly monster if not handled properly.
The Langata legislator said the international community, particularly US, France and Britain are monitoring the unfolding events keenly and warned the government not to embarrass itself by sabotaging the mediation efforts.
The MP disclosed that ODM has a fall-back should the Annan talks fail in the next 15 days. He however declined to expound on the nature of such plan. The ODM leader however maintained that he was for peace despite political impasse sparked off by the controversial declaration of Kibaki as winner of the December 27, presidential poll.
Over 850 people have so far been killed and nearly 500, 000 others internally displaced. Property worth billions of shilling has also been destroyed. The general economy has suffered major setbacks, with all its key sectors registering massive losses.
Raila’s remarks came as the UN- appointed mediator and former secretary-general Kofi Annan’s efforts to restore Kenya back to its original self reach a crucial stage today following an 18-point roadmap to peace that was unveiled last week.
The talks will from today start discussing the contentious issue of the election outcome. South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa who jetted in the country on Saturday is expected to join in the talks. But even as the talks have been going on, there have been fresh rounds of animosity between the main protagonists in the crisis-Mr Odinga and President Kibaki.
Raila on Saturday expressed displeasure with Kibaki’s overt hard-line stance over the mediations, especially when he insisted that he won the election and that those who feel aggrieved should move to court.
Addressing African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa and in a statement that gravely angered the ODM leadership at the same time threatened the on-going mediation talks, President Kibaki told the party to turn to the Judiciary, saying the courts have in the past arbitrated such cases and that this one should not be an exception.
His sentiments were echoed on Saturday by his Justice Minister and PNU hardliner Martha Karua who told ODM to move to the courts while insisting that President Kibaki won the election fairly.
Speaking during a funds-drive in his Gichugu constituency, Karua at the same time dispelled any chances of President Kibaki forming a government of national unity to incorporate Mr Odinga and his team. And in a sharp reaction, Raila said President Kibaki’s outburst was careless and inflaming passions of wounds that had started to heal.
He also expressed fears that President Kibaki might not abide by the resolutions reached on by the Annan mediation team. Raila accused Mr Kibaki of undermining Annan’s efforts with his frequent explosions adding that there was no need of inviting Annan in the first place, if he (Kibaki) felt that he was in officer legitimately.
Still yesterday, Raila who was accompanied by his wife Ida , speaking outside the Bondo Anglican Church of Kenya after attending a church service registered his displeasure with President Kibaki’s handling of the crisis.
He said that peace must be given a chance but insisted that there can not be peace without justice in the first place.He pointed out that countries such as the United States and France have impressed upon him not to relent in his quest. Raila also insisted that last year’s general election was rigged in favor of President Kibaki, especially in his Central Province stronghold.
Raila also dismissed President Kibaki’s assertions that the on going clashes were pre-meditated and instigated by the Opposition, claiming that the government was instigating ethnic clashes in anticipation of a possible run off. “These people who fear us now want to set communities which support us against each other” he said, while calling on various communities to live in peace as has always been the case.
Raila said even people in Central province and parts of Gusii land voted for ODM and some of them should not be targeted. He also explained that ODM bagged seven out of the ten parliamentary seats in Gusiiland.
Raila insisted that rigging of the polls was not done in Kisii but at the Kenyatta International Conference center in Nairobi and ruled out the use of the military in resolving the political crisis, arguing that the military is itself divided. Raila pointed out that if the worse come to the worst, the best option would be a United Nations or African Union force.
He also opposed an international solution being imposed, saying the problem can be solved locally. Mr Odinga ordered that schools in Nyanza province should re-open from today. Pupils have not been able to go to school in the region for fear of being targeted by gangs. Attempts by Nyanza PC Paul Olando to have schools reopen have been in vain.