KENYA CABINET WELCOMES ANNAN'S VERDICT

DAILY NATION
NAIROBI, KENYA
By NATION Reporter and Correspondent
Thursday, October 8 2009

The government on Thursday welcomed chief mediator Kofi Annan’s verdict on reforms in Kenya as MPs differed over it and his planned return in December.
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo said he had talked with his colleagues in government who welcomed Mr Annan’s stand.

Mr Annan completed his three-day visit on Wednesday with a clear message that masterminds of last year’s post-election violence must be brought to book before 2012.

He said the ball was now in President Kibaki’s and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s court to ensure that far-reaching reforms were carried out.

Mr Annan, who indicated he will return before the end of the year, warned that anything short of the reforms would plunge Kenya into chaos.

On Thursday, Mr Kilonzo said: “As a government we welcome his stand. Mr Annan has proved he is an honest broker.”

However, Mr Kilonzo differed with PNU vice-chairman George Nyamweya, who told Mr Annan and Western countries to keep off Kenya’s affairs.

The minister said Mr Annan was still required to monitor the implementation of the reforms as chair of National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee.

On his part, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the implementation of reforms was not meant to please the international community.

Mr Odinga said that Kenya was pursuing the reform agenda for the sake of her own people.

Good job

“We are not doing anything to placate donors. We are doing it because it is good for the country,” he told students of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega.

In Nairobi, ODM Kenya chairman Samuel Poghisio, who is also Information minister, said Mr Annan should continue to engage with the country.

ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo said Mr Annan had done a good job and welcomed him back to the country. Mr Annan’s constant pressure on the government, he noted, would ensure the country did not slip back to chaos.