McKinnon welcomes Kenya political settlement

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has warmly welcomed a power-sharing agreement in Kenya to end a political crisis sparked by the disputed outcome of last December’s general elections.

“This is a momentous occasion for Kenya,” Mr McKinnon said in a statement issued on 28 February 2008.

“Coming after a very difficult period in the country’s history, this signals a new beginning. It is an agreement that the Commonwealth warmly welcomes. We urge Kenya’s political leaders to maintain this spirit of co-operation in the implementation of the agreement.”

The deal was brokered by an African Union-backed team of eminent African persons, led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and including former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and former Mozambique Education Minister Graça Machel.

Under the deal, Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement will share power with President Mwai Kibaki and his Party of National Unity and its allies. The agreement will be backed by relevant amendments to the Constitution.

Mr McKinnon stated that the Commonwealth is ready to assist the Kenyan authorities to implement the reform agenda in the agreement.

“The Commonwealth stands ready to support reform and reconciliation. We can draw from our experience and expertise in areas of electoral and constitutional reform, as well as institution-building, to support Kenya in addressing its challenges,” the Secretary-General said.

“We have remained engaged with Mr Annan, President Kibaki and Mr Odinga, and are very pleased at the outcome of the talks.”

Mr McKinnon urged Kenya’s leaders to remain committed to the process of national healing and reconciliation, in order to return the country to full political stability and economic growth as quickly as possible.

"Kenya’s leaders must make sure that what has happened in the country never happens again. They should use Kenya’s diversity as a strength, not a weakness."

The Commonwealth is entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-Kenya) to work together on support for reform of the electoral commission, and on constitutional and other changes.

Key Links:

• Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for the 2007 General Elections in Kenya
• Country Profile: Kenya

Related News:

• African Union