Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides)- “This was a good sign, but there is still long way to go to reach pacification ” said a local Catholic source in Nairobi after Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga met on January 24. The meeting was mediated by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
“The political leaders did talk and this is important but it failed to stop violence which continues to disrupt certain areas of the country” the source told Fides. “For example at Kericho, Rift Valley, after India and Sri Lanka the world's largest area for producing tea, an important export for Kenya, it is reported that about 1,200 youths in gangs are raiding and looting. In Nakuru central Kenya, the Kikuyu people, the President's ethnic group, victims of most of the recent violence, are now on the offensive taking revenge against other ethnic groups. The army has imposed a curfew in the town. In Nairobi's Korogocho slum, the two main criminal gangs the Kikuyu Mungiki and the Luo Talebani are back on the scene ”.
The local red Cross office says in Nakuru clashes left at least three people dead, hundreds wounded and thousands homeless.
“So the picture is still difficult and it is not clear who is behind the gangs. What is certain is that, as reported by Human Rights Watch, the clashes are organised not spontaneous. The mode of assault would seem to indicate selective violence and the use of criminal elements which take advantage of the disorder, steeling cattle for example. Police officers in various areas of Kenya have been dismissed for failing to prevent the violence ” the source told Fides.
“But now the situation threatens to get out of hand of the orchestrators” the source continued “Another possible reason for continued violence is that the opposition wants to maintain tension in order to pressure the President, or that it comes from the camp of Odinga, against negotiations because he is against a compromise”.
However a compromise would appear to be a long way off, because despite the smiles and handshakes the meeting of the two leaders failed to produce results at the political level. On the contrary the parties began to insult each other as soon as the meeting had ended. Odinga said he will not accept to be Prime Minster with Kibaki as President. He said he sees three possible solutions: resignation of Kibaki; repeat of elections; a coalition government to prepare the country for elections. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/1/2008 righe 32 parole 469)
