Annan to hold talks with Kibaki

By David Ochami

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to meet President Kibaki today to discuss progress of reforms.

"Dr Annan is set to meet Kibaki at 10.30am at his Harambee House office," the Director of Presidential Press Service Isaiya Kabira said.

Annan will get a briefing from the Head of State on the progress made on reforms in Agenda Item Four agreed upon under the National Accord.

The talks are expected to touch on how the coalition can avert differences that may compromise attainment of a new constitution.

Annan, who mediated Kenya’s post-election crisis, will also hold talks with civil society organisations in the afternoon.

He arrived on Wednesday amid growing rifts in Government over Mau evictions and the search for a new constitution.

Last week, MPs sabotaged a Motion by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara seeking to establish a local tribunal under international law to try international crimes suspects, prompting Annan to hold talks with House Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Two level

Annan told journalists after talks with the Speaker he was alarmed at Parliament’s failure to create the special tribunal.

"MPs know the importance of the special tribunal," said Annan on Thursday.

Marende said Parliament had ceased to be a rubber stamp and has played a commendable role in the review of the constitution.

According to Ndung’u Wainaina, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict, who has been invited to meet Annan, the civil society will ask Annan to pressure Raila and Kibaki to push for a local tribunal.

He said he would advance an argument for a two level trial of suspects at the International Criminal Court and in Kenya.

"We support (efforts by) the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute the post-election violence architects, but we urgently need the special tribunal," he said.

Ndung’u continued: "This cannot happen if the President and Prime Minister do not lobby Government inclined MPs to vote for the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2009."

Raila’s spokesmen Dennis Onyango said the Prime Minister was leaving the country last Sunday night and would be away for a week.