Kriegler set for Kenya reforms meet

Former South African judge Johann Kriegler who investigated the 2007 disputed presidential poll is expected in Kenya next week for a reform conference.

Dr Kriegler will be the key note speaker as Kenyans and other international participants discuss how the country can conduct a free, fair and credible election in 2012.

A report by his team, Independent Review Commission (IREC), jump-started the electoral reform process that has culminated in the formation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

The conference organised by the Kofi Annan foundation and the Panel of Eminent African Personalities will take place on Monday and Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi. It will be the third review meet to monitor progress made after the mediation talks that took place during the post-election violence in 2008.

Briefing journalists on the up coming conference, the Panel’s chief of staff Nana Effah-Apenteng said that it will also focus on the implementation of the Constitution, tribalism and reforms of key institutions.

“This will be  a forward looking international conference focusing on how to build conditions for long-term sustained progress and how to move the country towards a peaceful, secure and prosperous future,” said Dr Effah-Apenteng.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are expected to lead the government’s participation at the conference though the Head of State is yet to confirm attendance, according to Dr Effah-Apenteng. He added that the conference was important as it was coming at a time when the country is preparing for next year’s elections.

“We are aware of the many debates taking place in this regard and we hope to explore these among key developmental issues for the benefit of all Kenyans,” said Dr Effah-Apenteng.

He also said that the Panel had seen the progress made in the reform agenda but added that the country “was not out of the woods yet”.

The conference will look at the implementation of the Constitution and identify key priorities ahead of the elections as well as challenges that might emerge and how they can be dealt with. While discussing the issues of ethnicity the conference will have a panel made up of elders and youths.

Key speakers at the conference from Kenya are: Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Speaker Kenneth Marende. Other participants will include Attorney General Githu Muigai, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Lands minister James Orengo, IEBC chairman Issack Hassan, Commission on Implementation of the Constitution chairman Charles Nyachae and Gichugu MP Martha Karua.

Key international figures who will be at the meeting include former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania), John Kufuor (Ghana), Festus Mogae (Botswana) and former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark.