Commentary (by Kenneth Ogosia) - Kenya poised to make history on continent, says Raila

Ref: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=118306


Story by KENNETH OGOSIA
Publication Date: 3/5/2008

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga Tuesday said Kenya will become a leader in Africa by becoming the first country to have a Prime Minister and President willing to share power.

“We are pioneers in the struggle of hope to restore acceptable leadership between the Prime Minister and the President despite the heavy cost. We expect challenges, not problems,” he said.

He said though the cost of such achievements were painful and regrettable, the unity of purpose, trust, confidence and sincerity will guarantee the implementation of the power-sharing agreement and put Kenya at par with larger democracies such as Germany.

Unique lessons

Mr Odinga said the deal must be fast-tracked to alleviate the suffering of Kenyans displaced by post-election violence.

He said the agreement he signed with President Kibaki cannot be compared to the failed Memorandum of Understanding of 2003 because it will address social-economic and settlement problems.

“The problems of land that led to clashes in 1991, 92, 97, 2002 and complete displacement in 2007 were not addressed in 2003 because we assumed there would be goodwill. That was 2003 and now this is 2008 when Kenyans have been taught unique lessons about human behaviour,” he said.

He added, “In 2002 we started a coalition before elections and now it is after elections and unique circumstances of change have been brought about.”

Mr Odinga said that Kenya’s rejection of anti-democracy manoeuvres will help restore democracy and set a good example in Africa where a practical coalition government will be established for the benefit of over 30 million citizens.

He said the perceptions people are building are challenges that will be overcome through trust and confidence among all Kenyans despite the main work force being drawn from ODM and PNU.

Mr Odinga said the official opposition could still be effectively enhanced if smaller parties that do not constitute ODM and PNU parliamentary groups formed a coalition with a watchdog agenda.

Mr Odinga was speaking soon after meeting former Norwegian prime minister Mr Kjell Magne Bondevik at Pentagon House.

Mr Odinga said only a sustainable programme of trust and institutional building will ensure that internally displaced people returned to their homes.

“Our two teams are working on the Bills and frameworks to be entrenched in the constitution and once the new government is formed, there will be no fear among the internally displaced people who have faced suspicion and hostility since 1991,” he said.

Mr Odinga said the success of the deal depended on goodwill on both sides.

“From both parties, suspicion and fear should be discarded and we must set ourselves to become the pioneers of a second stage democracy after we brought about multi-party politics. Both were not achieved easily,” he added.

Mr Odinga said not everybody will be in the Cabinet and those who may not be included have an opportunity to exploit their talents in the back bench and put the government to task regarding attempts to muzzle the society.

He said healing among the two political groupings would be undertaken in a process of goodwill because the bruising campaigns set them apart and the post-election violence now heightened the bad blood which requires focus beyond “chauvinistic cocoons”.