Details here.
Of course, there’s a lot of negatives like the effective absence of an opposition. But it gives the country some much-needed breathing space and I sincerely hope an opportunity for the hard work of rebuilding, healing, and creating a new political space to begin.
I woke up to a text message from my mom and said “thank the Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven!” my exact words.
Then the anxiety set in. I just hope that it is as airtight as possible, and there is no more reneging! I also hope that it proves to be long lasting and the office of a prime minister is officially adopted in the constitution.
By the way, your “Details Here” link is missing the “h” in http so it is not working.
This is great news but, as you rightly point out, there is still a long way to go. This is just the beginning for Kenya but, at least, at last, Kenya has a chance.
Thank God! We owe the Annan team some nyama choma. Now we have to keep our fingers crossed that the new cabinet won’t be paralyzed by too much in-fighting (PNU and ODM still do not like each other).
Any news on what will happen to Kalonzo? The deal says that the coalition will be formed by two parties (?) Does this mean only PNU and ODM or does Stephen get to hang on to the VP’s post?
Amen. Let’s hope for the best.
hurray!!!! serious work starts now and Im so thankful to Kofi Annan and all those involved in the talks.
Hi Pundit,
Just referenced you in my own post about it.
Iâ€m not too worried about the lack of an opposition because I think that the tensions within the government will be enough to serve as effective opposition. After all an opposition is meant to constrain the powers of the government and I think the infighting that will happen within this coalition will keep them all in check. Perhaps Kenyans need to rethink the way we structure opposition politics in view of our ethnic politics. (we tend to oppose not policies, but the ethnicities) Perhaps coalitions and consensus is the way forward for us. Then again perhaps i’m just saying this out of sheer hope and so desperately wanting things to work!
Ory….May God Bless You …your blog has trully been doing a wonderful service…..kudos to all the kenyan bloggers also…let us hope “kenyans” finally become kenyans and not tribal outfits…
Gog is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! He sent Koffi Annan and has worked through him, because the two nutters we have for 2leaders” would never have agreed on anything.
I am so over the moon right now, but also hav to remind myself that this is just the beginning
The Nation is calling it a “peace deal.” Elsewhere it’s being termed a “power-sharing deal.” Not that it can’t be both–though the text of the actual deal seems to lean more toward power sharing, but I think it’s worth remarking on what has actually been signed as opposed to what we think or hope might have been signed.
Thank God. However, alot remains to be done. Neighbours from different tribes trusting each other is going to be the biggest huddle.
It is good news.
About opposition missing? It does not matter at least for now, although my wife thinks others wise. What we hope is that there is going to be political will to move the process towards serious reforms.
In the event the deal does not hold, PNU and Kibaki will loose out terribly because of failed MoU in 2002, dubious wako draft 2005, and election 2007. If it fails because PNU MPs do not support ODM in enacting the deal, then ODM assertion of Kibaki being untrustworthy will hold. It will be chaos for the country!
If ODM does not live up to the deal, public mistrust in political elites will vanish generally although life will go on normally. But this is not guaranteed. Hardened groups may emerge and we may nevevr like living in Kenya.
Having read the deal (as per the Nation), I think there are some legal fundamentals which MPs should not loose sight of. Eg. When the deal says that each party to appoint a deputy PM, it does not mean that the constitution will read so. This is because political parties come and go but constitutional provisions remain. So, the provision should read: ….there shall be a prime minister who should be the leader of party with majority in parliament…… (b) there shall be 2 deputy prime minister who shall be appointed by ….. The details on how the same should be shared is left to the Coalition Agreement….I may be wrong but that is what we need!
Kenya should not fall!
Yes but it’s a long, long, route to healing & dealing with a bashed economy, trust it will not stop here.
Trust Annan (who has sacrificed a lot) will continue to mediate for concrete action on the displaced, opening up of “no-go zones”, poverty -the have-have-not divide, restoration of morality among /between dehumanized communities, what to do with the “free”land left in the R Valley, the imminent food shortage & high prices and many more long term issues.
We may have to brace ourselves to pay more tax to support an overweight political class in power (who unfortunately are exempt form 100% income tax) . Shouldn’t Kenyans now lobby ti ensure their elected class pays its taxes?
Cant’ help but wonder what those who killed, looted, raped, destroyed livelihoods on behalf of some party,person feel/think now? any ideas?
The deal is great. This is what folks from Jukwaa think about it.
http://jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1204202210
Kenyans can move forward and hopefully this grand coalition can implement a new constitution.
What is going to hapen to the VP? any ideas?
While Kenyan’s welcome a deal, we should welcome the deal proposed in the article below with a lot of suspicion. Why didn’t these MPs SPEAK out for the IDPs before a deal was made? Why didn’t they show leadership and preach peace after violence broke out? So now they want us to forget the crimes against fellow Kenyans? What a bunch of hypocrites…!
“Kenya: Rift MPs Hail Pact, Welcome Back IDPs”
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802291023.html
Dear Ory,
I sent the following to the East African Standard, after seeing Kalonzo Musyoka asking for the lifting of the travel bans. Thought I would share it.
On behalf of other Kenyans, looking for accountability in all our public servants, I am urging the international community NOT to lift any travel bans that were initiated against corrupt officials, those who tried to derail the negotiated talks, and those suspected of using violence against Kenyans seeking to assert their rights.
Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka does not represent the interests of Kenyans when he asks the international community to dismount the various “structures” of pressure that have brought us to a point where changes in government are just now being outlined. These bans should stay in effect until the President, Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, PS, MPs, election commissioners/officials, and other government workers understand that there are repercussions to all their actions; until legal and constitutional reforms have been put in place and Kenyans are reaping the benefits of good governance; and until those who have used power structures in the past to disenfranchise sections of the Kenyan community realise that the Kenyan people, and NOT an elite group, have every right to determine their political destiny in a fair and democratic election.
Musyoka seems to believe that now that both sides have agreed to work together that a lifting of the bans will engender goodwill especially among those who feel “victimised”. Either he chooses to be very naive, or is “playing stupid”. When he and others like him promise government seats to “loyalists” who have very little to fear except the occasional reshuffle when they refuse to govern well, this sets up the foundation for a group of hard-headed, arrogant, disrespectful, power-grabbing, corrupt officials who have a sense of entitlement – the likes of whom we have seen all too many of within our government. What follows them is chaos!
Like many Kenyans, I have decided that I have learned a valuable lesson this election year – I am going to stay actively engaged in the politics of running my country until the next election year – I owe it to every Kenyan who lost their lives, and to myself. I refuse to be a victim because I didn’t care enough to ask the hard questions and to demand answers! With courage, I will stand up and speak where there is injustice, and work harder to make things better. What I won’t do is to ignore the obvious and let a few get away with their mediocre representation of the wishes of the masses. I’ve come to the conclusion that some hardliners just won’t get it. It won’t be my responsibility to “plead” with them. Instead, I am going to join the international community in telling them to, “Sit your -ss down. You are NOT going to travel the globe on my tax dollars if you don’t represent all Kenyans !”
[…] are lamenting that the deal effectively leaves Kenya without an opposition in parliament. I too have worried about that as was the case with Kanu joining sides with PNU. […]