29 February 2008
Kenyan Unity Agreement Praised by United States
Rice says pact was a Kenyan solution to the crisis
Washington -– The United States congratulates Kenyan leaders for reaching a power-sharing accord that ends months of civil strife that nearly destroyed the East African country's society and economy. Kenya has been a long-time democratic ally of the United States and a nation that could be turned to for assistance in efforts to resolve other crises in Africa.
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the power-sharing accord reached February 28 between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who will become the new prime minister of Kenya under the terms of the agreement. "In the true spirit of democracy, the Kenyan people delivered clear messages to their leaders on the need for a political solution to the crisis their country faced," she said in a statement.
Rice said the power-sharing agreement was developed by the Kenyans but with able assistance from former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and African Union (AU) representatives, who helped mediate the talks. "The United States provided intensive support for those efforts and will continue to do so as the two sides finish work on the remaining agenda item dealing with needed reforms," Rice said, adding that "the Kenyan coalition government and people can count on our support as they move forward to implement the agreement and reform agenda."
Civil strife erupted violently after the December 27, 2007, re-election of Kibaki. In the ensuing months, more than 1,000 people were killed and thousands more injured in largely ethnic violence, and Kenyan society and its economy were threatened with collapse. In the meantime, Annan led a team of negotiators from the AU to try and reach an accord between Kibaki and Odinga.
Annan said that "compromise was necessary for the survival of this country," according to press accounts.
The United States believes that the agreement reached in Nairobi is an important step in sustaining Kenya's democratic government and free market economy, and that it demonstrates to the region and the world that even the most profound crises can be resolved if there is political will to do so. Rice added that she urges all Kenyans to seize this opportunity to bolster unity, democratic governance and prosperity.
Rice traveled to Nairobi February 18 to meet with Annan and the Kenyan leaders to reinforce the United States' view that the violence had to end and a workable agreement had to be reached. She was traveling with President Bush, who was on a five-nation visit to Africa at the time.
After weeks of seemingly frustrating negotiations, Kibaki and Odinga agreed to a plan that will make Odinga the new prime minister. As prime minister, Odinga will have power to "coordinate and supervise" government affairs and operations.
The Kenyan Parliament will reconvene in a week to pass the unity agreement into law. Kenya will have two deputy prime ministers, who will be nominated by each member of the coalition government.
