09.Jan.2008

Kenya got independence in 1963 and Jomo Kenyata a Kikuyu by tribe was Kenya's first President. He died in 1978 and he was replaced by Daniel Arap Moi. Mwai Kibaki who had been a Minister in Jomo Kenyata's government took over from Daniel Arap Moi in 2002.

On Dec 27, 2007 Kenyans turned up in large numbers to cast their votes to determine their future. The candidates were three i.e. Mwai Kibaki who was the incumbent from Party of National Unity (PNU) and Raila Odinga from the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) & the third candidate was Kalonzo Musyoka.

In the early results that trickled in Raila Odinga was leading and at the eleventh hour Mwai Kibaki emerged the winner with a margin of over 200,000 votes. Mwai Kibaki was declared winner and sworn in an hour later by the Electoral Commission of Kenya's. The Kenyan streets had now turned into a battle field between the ODM supporters majority of whom are of Luo origin who were running after the Kikuyu from Kibaki's tribe.

The post-election violence in a weeks time had claimed over 486 lives even more including those who had been burnt in a church. Efforts in trying to bring the situation in Kenya to calm have attracted Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi E. Frazer and the Chairman of African Union Mr. John Kufour to go to Kenya to mediate between Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki.

US Presidential hopeful Barak Obama whose father hails from Kenya took time off his busy campaign schedule and called Raila and Kibaki asking then to solve the differences peacefully. Mr. Barak "urged an end to violence and that Mr. Odinga sit down, without preconditions, with President Kibaki to resolve this issue peacefully."  

Mr Kibaki went ahead and appointed half of the ministers taking up all the key ministries. Kalonzo Musyoka who trailed in the polls was made Vice President and of the appointed ministers none was from the ODM party which Raila Odinga heads. It was assumed that the rest of the appointments could be made after the mediation talks with Mr.John Kufuor. Mr Kibaki made these appointments shortly before receiving the African Union Chairman.

The ODM party said it does not recognize the new cabinet and they are not ready to join the government of National Unity. The Violence in Kenya has subsided, Raila Odinga met Mwai Kibaki in the presence of John Kufour but its unlikely that the two will meet for direct talks to resolve the violence which is turning out to be tribal other than political in the short run.