Adopt the proposals, says Annan

Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan yesterday called on all parties to implement the recommendations of the Kriegler commission report.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mr Annan, who helped broker a peace deal that ended two months of post-election violence, said electoral reforms were some of the issues that should be implemented quickly.
Mr Annan said he was happy with the progress made to find a lasting solution to problems facing the country.

Power-sharing

“What is important is the implementation of the issues,” he said.

Mr Annan, who played a crucial role in bringing warring ODM and PNU leaders together resulting in a power-sharing deal between President Kibaki and Mr Odinga, said the Kriegler report was a valuable document for Kenyans.

“We should move it forward and implement the issues,” he said.

The report was presented to the former UN boss by the chairman of the Independent Review Commission (IREC), Mr Justice Johann Kriegler at the Serena Hotel’s Amani room Thursday.

Gained fame

Formerly known as the Orchid room, the Amani (Kiswahili for peace) gained fame as the venue for talks that ended a crisis that had pushed the country to the brink early this year.

After the presentation, members of the commission went into a meeting with Mr Annan, who arrived Thursday morning.

Sources at the meeting told the Nation that the former UN boss was briefed on the report’s recommendations.

The report, which was jointly presented to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga on Wednesday, will be made public today.