Resolve disputes, Annan tells parties
Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan takes a stroll to the Serena Hotel after meetings President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende in Nairobi on Thursday. With him are his aides. Photo/AU
Chief mediator Kofi Annan has asked the Grand Coalition partners to resolve their differences immediately.
In a departure from the past when he jointly met President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on Thursday he met them separately.
Mr Annan is said to have urged the two principals to close ranks and ensure reforms that will prevent further political chaos.
“The former UN secretary-general encouraged Kenyan leaders to remain focused and give the country a new constitution that will serve them for posterity,” said the Presidential Press Service in a statement on the talks, which focused on the state of affairs in the Grand Coalition, the pace of reforms and political interference.
Mr Annan met the Prime Minister at his Treasury office at 9am for one hour and later held a meeting with the President at Harambee House at 4 pm.
In between, the former UN boss called on Speaker Kenneth Marende at Parliament Buildings and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance at the Serena Hotel, where he is staying. Mr Annan is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday at 4.30pm, at the end of his four-day visit.
He listed as critical the unity and stability of the country, which was rocked by chaos following the disputed 2007 presidential election results in 2007. Some 1,133 people were killed and 350,000 displaced.
At Harambee House, the President defended the relations in the Grand Coalition and gave the government’s score card on reforms.
And at the Treasury, the issues that have led to the deterioration of relations between coalition partners PNU and ODM were placed on the table.
