

Part9 of the 10 things I wish I knew before I left Africa
Hello Hello Hello,
First up, to all who have been trying to click on the navigation bar at the top of the page and wondering why it doesn’t work….that’s my bad! I have been slow getting the tech completed but by the next post it’ll be done, otherwise feel free to circumcise me for the second time.
In today’s post, a short one for me, I want to share with you my dreams and goals. I don’t do this for egotistical reasons, though those are nice, but rather for two reasons: (more…)
Social Bookmarking
Former South Africa first lady Graca Machel, President Kibaki, former UN chief Kofi Annan, ODM leader Raila Odinga and former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa when they met at Harambee House, Nairobi. (Source NMG)
There is an eminent flop in the mediation exercise that is on going. The two sides, irrespective of meetings that have been ongoing for almost two weeks appear to drift further apart as each day goes by. From the media briefings it’s rather obvious that they are far from reading one script. The arrogance that is characteristics of Martha Karua is still at its best. Moses Wetangula is still behaving badly and same can be said of Mutula Kilonzo. In section of the blogospehere, reports indicated that Government spies implanted listening devices at Annan’s Serena Hotel room. What next for ODM?
Allow me to sound the devil’s advocate in this. The ODM brigade I believe have realized that these talks are headed nowhere. If the haven’t, they should watch Kibaki addressing the AU in Adis last week. ODM should also realize that calls for peace rather than Justice are gaining more ground. At its best, ODM’s success in fighting Kibaki’s leadership is very much dependent on chaos. On the other hand Koffi Annan’s mediation talks have in effect cooled a lot of tempers. The communities perceived to be in the wrong tuff have almost gone back to what Kenyans refer to as “reserves”, as such the scary chaotic scenes will cease to target any of the so called enemy. At this point in time, the precipitates for chaos are significantly reduced. In other words calm might soon evolve to mini-peace. Its that mini-peace that Kibaki requires.
ODM cannot afford partial success or partial failure of the mediation talks. It will be in the best interest of this movement if real success can be achieved. In this case real success should amount to nothing else rather than a presidential rerun within the next 6months. If that is not the case then ODM should consider the outcome of such talks as partial whichever side you look at it, failure or success.
Looking at the unfolding events, it is a sure bet that these talks are headed for a partial success/failure. The ODM should not in anyway allow that. Either partiality should be sired to the sure result. If failure it is, then ODM should ensure that the talks fail and not a single resolution should be arrived at. In the unlikely event that a partial success should be, then they must work extra hard to ensure the whole success. This reasoning might be controversial but I believe that ODM cannot achieve its agenda in a scenario where they are bound by certain aspects while others remain unresolved.
The latitude required in the Post-Annan Kenya will not require leaders with legs on both sides of the divide. If it is a disagreement, so let it be. Such a scenario will then give ODM the goodwill to soldier on with its fight against the perceived enemy. Raila should then go ahead and announce his plan B whose success depends very much on the success of chaos. The baggage of Annan’s resolution will not tether the ODM leadership to any binding documents. ODM should by now realize that things should not be allowed to go back to normal, and as such they should be working beyond these talks.
Blogged with Flock