KENYA: Residents in the volatile town of Kericho react to news that Kenya's opposing political parties have agreed to form a coalition government

Record ID: 361147

  • Title: KENYA: Residents in the volatile town of Kericho react to news that Kenya's opposing political parties have agreed to form a coalition government
  • Date: 9th February 2008
  • Summary: (BN13) KERICHO, KENYA (FEBRUARY 8, 2008) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO CAMP FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) NEAR CHURCH WITH TIMES FOR CHURCH SERVICES INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS STAYING AT CAMP POT BOILING OVER OPEN FIRE KENYAN RED CROSS WORKER SUSAN ONYANGO SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE AT CAMP PAN FROM CHILD BEING HELD TO CHILD HOLDING HIM (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN ONYANGO,
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAPQCN3Z51C9ZY0YR6LNZR60SE
  • Story Text: Residents in a Kenyan town struck by political violence in recent weeks reacted on Friday (February 8) to news that their country's feuding political parties may reach a breakthrough within days Chief mediator in the political talks former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced the possibility of a deal that could help end violence after a disputed election.
    Annan's upbeat assessment came as local media speculated a power-sharing deal was on the cards between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose disagreement has brought unrest shattering Kenya's stability.
    The post-election violence has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced at least 304,000, according to figures released by the Kenyan Red Cross.

    "If the leaders talk to their people maybe in their locality maybe they would come to agree but if people are not - maybe they will just agree up there and if people are not informed - this is a personal opinion maybe of someone who has been working on the ground - if the opinion has not been sought than trust may not be there," said Kenyan Red Cross worker Susan Onyango as she helped displaced Kericho residents who have taken refuge on church grounds.
    Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says Kibaki supporters rigged the vote, but Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) says the opposition cheated in its heartland and points to the election board's announcement Kibaki had won.
    In the town of Kericho, there was mixed reaction to the idea of a coalition government.

    "Yeah, it's a step forward towards achieving a stable kind of situation in Kenya," said Cherhiyot Kipsang Richard, a Kalenjin from Kericho.

    "It won't be that positive because I know Raila will ask for more executive powers," said Oscar Cherge, a Kikuyu whose family has been displaced.
    Annan has given both sides until mid-February to resolve that issue and then move on to tackle deeper, underlying problems like land and wealth inequality within a year.
    On Friday, Kibaki and Odinga met for the third time since the crisis began. Their negotiators, meanwhile, shook hands warmly with each other after another day's talks in the warmest body-language seen yet between the two sides.
    Kenya's election unrest has laid bare deep divisions over land, wealth and power that date from British colonial rule and have since been stoked by politicians.
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