Museveni extends stay in Kenya
Jan 23, 2008
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has extended his official visit to Kenya by a day, in order to resolve a political dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga over the December 27 presidential elections.
By Raymond Baguma and agencies
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has extended his official visit to Kenya by a day, in order to resolve a political dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga over the December 27 presidential elections.
Museveni, who arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday, was to spend two days in Kenya. Yesterday, Museveni, who is the chairman of the East African Community, met with Kibaki for three hours, as a follow up of an earlier meeting with Odinga on Tuesday evening.
“We are staying longer. It seems there is some positive development after the talks at Nairobi State House with President Kibaki,†the presidential press secretary, Tamale Mirundi, said in Nairobi.
Last evening, Museveni also held a meeting with former UN secretary general Kofi Anan before he went into another closed meeting with Odinga, who charges that Kibaki stole his victory in the presidential elections.
Mirundi said Museveni had made progress in his efforts to broker an agreement between President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
According to Tamale, Museveni has proposed power-sharing, a judicial commission of inquiry into the elections and investigations to establish who masterminded the post-election killings.
“Both President Kibaki and the opposition agree on the establishment of the commission of inquiry. However, the government insists that it must appoint the commission of inquiry while the opposition is demanding that it vets the members of the commission,†Tamale explained.
On power-sharing, Kibaki’s side is opposed to it, saying it cannot share power with the killers.
Odinga hinted he may accept the creation of a prime minister post for him. “We are ready to share power with him. He remains president and we take the position of prime minister,†Odinga told Germany’s ARD television.
“President Museveni has condemned the killing of innocent Kenyans and has proposed that investigations should be carried out to establish who was behind the killings,†Mirundi said.
He revealed that Museveni was upset by some Kenyan opposition MPs who wanted him to explain reports that Ugandan soldiers were involved in the Kenya crisis.
“He has made it clear that there was no need to have Ugandan soldiers in Kenya. He has instructed me to clarify this matter with the Kenyan media.â€
Meanwhile, Kenyan police fired teargas at hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in a funeral procession in Nairobi as the crowd started chanting political slogans and blocking traffic. At least 13 coffins carrying victims of a string of deadly protests held last week were eventually laid out on tables, where mourners gathered for a mass attended by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Odinga and other oppositioin leaders, who were in a tent when the tear gas was fired, sped off in their vehicles as angry rock-throwing protestors clashed with police in the street nearby.
Odinga had earlier demanded that Kibaki stands down or face an election repeat.
The World Bank and African Development Bank said they would review funding to Kenya if leaders fail to halt the crisis.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has extended his official visit to Kenya by a day, in order to resolve a political dispute between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga over the December 27 presidential elections.
Museveni, who arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday, was to spend two days in Kenya. Yesterday, Museveni, who is the chairman of the East African Community, met with Kibaki for three hours, as a follow up of an earlier meeting with Odinga on Tuesday evening.
“We are staying longer. It seems there is some positive development after the talks at Nairobi State House with President Kibaki,†the presidential press secretary, Tamale Mirundi, said in Nairobi.
Last evening, Museveni also held a meeting with former UN secretary general Kofi Anan before he went into another closed meeting with Odinga, who charges that Kibaki stole his victory in the presidential elections.
Mirundi said Museveni had made progress in his efforts to broker an agreement between President Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
According to Tamale, Museveni has proposed power-sharing, a judicial commission of inquiry into the elections and investigations to establish who masterminded the post-election killings.
“Both President Kibaki and the opposition agree on the establishment of the commission of inquiry. However, the government insists that it must appoint the commission of inquiry while the opposition is demanding that it vets the members of the commission,†Tamale explained.
On power-sharing, Kibaki’s side is opposed to it, saying it cannot share power with the killers.
Odinga hinted he may accept the creation of a prime minister post for him. “We are ready to share power with him. He remains president and we take the position of prime minister,†Odinga told Germany’s ARD television.
“President Museveni has condemned the killing of innocent Kenyans and has proposed that investigations should be carried out to establish who was behind the killings,†Mirundi said.
He revealed that Museveni was upset by some Kenyan opposition MPs who wanted him to explain reports that Ugandan soldiers were involved in the Kenya crisis.
“He has made it clear that there was no need to have Ugandan soldiers in Kenya. He has instructed me to clarify this matter with the Kenyan media.â€
Meanwhile, Kenyan police fired teargas at hundreds of opposition supporters taking part in a funeral procession in Nairobi as the crowd started chanting political slogans and blocking traffic. At least 13 coffins carrying victims of a string of deadly protests held last week were eventually laid out on tables, where mourners gathered for a mass attended by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Odinga and other oppositioin leaders, who were in a tent when the tear gas was fired, sped off in their vehicles as angry rock-throwing protestors clashed with police in the street nearby.
Odinga had earlier demanded that Kibaki stands down or face an election repeat.
The World Bank and African Development Bank said they would review funding to Kenya if leaders fail to halt the crisis.