Follow-up visit by chief mediator shows Kenya still on the radar

By David Ohito

Chief mediator Kofi Annan ended a marathon four-day visit seen as a reminder Kenya is still on the international community’s watch.

The tour indicted the world is still keeping tabs on the country and its efforts to deal with its darkest moment after the 2007 elections.

Dr Annan was to assess the progress of implementing the agreements reached at the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation, particularly the reform items under Agenda Four.

The Agenda Four issues include judicial, police and the electoral reforms. He stressed their importance to Kenya.

The former UN chief held a series of meetings with, among others, chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitutional Review Abdikadir Mohamed, Interim Independent Electoral Commission chairman Isack Hassan, African ambassadors, representatives from the donor community, religious, civil society, and business leaders.

Call for reforms

He also met the donor community, which includes 27 members and EU countries, which backed his call for reforms.

Donors urged politicians to commit themselves to implementation the reforms under the National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008.

Annan’s spokesperson Robert Watkinson, said, "Dr Annan heard from a number of individuals and institutions helping shape Kenya’s future. He is grateful for the enlightening and informative conversations, and for the opportunity to interact with actors committed to reforms."

But many, except Government officers, registered their disappointment at slow pace of reforms and urged Annan to be hard on the principals.

Annan engaged shuttle diplomacy with different stakeholders ranging from President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to the civil society.

The US has warned of unspecified action against Kenyan leaders frustrating reforms.

Fifteen individuals, including ministers, MPs and civil servants, last month received letters warning them of travel ban should the Government fail to implement reforms.

"Of great concern, however, is the potential for political conflicts within the coalition spilling into the constitution-making process," a report submitted to the panel of Eminent African personalities chaired by Annan says.

New constitution

"Since most reforms under Agenda Four are predicated on having a new constitution, failure to complete the review would end or slow down reforms or even lead to the country having administrative interventions rather than comprehensive reforms. Insulating the review from political conflicts at this stage is critical," the South Consulting report says.

ITEMS CONTAINED IN AGENDA FOUR

• Constitutional review

• Land reforms

• Electoral reforms

• Boundary reforms

• Police reforms

• Judicial reforms

• Employment and poverty reduction

• National cohesion and integration