Intrigues prior to Accord

By ALEX NDEGWA

With the fifth anniversary of the National Peace Accord due later this month, The Standard On Saturday reviews dramatic behind-the-scenes intrigues, which compelled President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to seal the deal.

On February 18, 2008, then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for “real power sharing” adding the famous statement “it can’t be business as usual,” which President Kibaki reportedly instructed his allies to respond cautiously.

On April 10 then US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger arranged a meeting with Raila and his allies to, according to leaked diplomatic cables, “convey a tough message of realities to ODM hardliners.” Meetings with Kibaki and Raila were organised with chief mediator, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

 Reporting to Washington, Ranneberger wrote that Raila and his team were “told why it would benefit them to take a less than perfect arrangement and enter the Cabinet, at which point we could reinforce Odinga’s role by working closely with him.”

ODM walked back on some of the unacceptable positions. Ranneberger then passed the climb down to Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, who he describes as close to Kibaki and a reliable messenger. 

The message emphasised that in view of Raila’s softening, Kibaki must move ahead to give him the “face-saving ministries he needed to conclude a deal.” 

“If Kibaki did that, my message made clear, the US would push Odinga to accept the deal,” according to the cables.  

In a meeting with President Kibaki on April 11, Ranneberger reported that he was willing to cede the Local Government Ministry to ODM.

“I indicated that the US viewed the deal on the table as reasonable, if not optimal, and believed that he should take it.  If he did, we would work to bolster his position as Prime Minister and work to ensure that the political accord is fully implemented,” the cable says.

The PM said that he would press Kibaki to give up the Transport and Energy ministries, but that he would ultimately accept what was on the table if he could not obtain more.   On April 12 the PM and President flew to a presidential retreat at Sagana State lodge for private discussions. 

“Odinga pressed Kibaki hard, but Kibaki was unwilling to give up additional ministries beyond Local Government. Odinga accepted the deal, and it was announced by Kibaki on April 13,” the cable concludes.