KENYA: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets Kenya's rival political leaders and says "the time for political settlement was yesterday"

Record ID: 362012

  • Title: KENYA: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets Kenya's rival political leaders and says "the time for political settlement was yesterday"
  • Date: 19th February 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SAYING: "I frankly believe that the time for political settlement was yesterday. It is really important that this be done and done urgently. Now, not everything can be done quickly. Obviously, some of the reforms are going to take some time and that's good but Kenyans I sense need to believe that this country
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6N0MYHGAQG8L2PODNY2RG6IMS
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets Kenya's rival political leaders and presses for political settlement. Rice says "the time for political settlement was yesterday."
    U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday (February 18) threw Washington's weight behind efforts to end a deadly post-election crisis in Kenya through power-sharing between the feuding parties.
    Rice, who was sent to Kenya by President George W. Bush during his Africa tour, is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Kenya since a Dec.
    27 vote triggered protests and ethnic conflict that killed 1,000 people and displaced 300,000.
    Rice first met with former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who is leading efforts to end the turmoil before holding talks with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and his rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga.
    Odinga says Kibaki stole the election through fraud, while Kibaki's team says its man won fairly and points to the official declaration by the election board that he took more votes.
    Rice told a news conference, her second of the day, that the time for a political settlement was "yesterday."

    "It is really important that this be done and done urgently. Now, not everything can be done quickly. Obviously, some of the reforms are going to take some time and that's good but Kenyans I sense need to believe that this country is moving forward, that it is not locked in a political stalemate," Rice said, addressing media on the grounds of the U.S.
    ambassador's residence.
    Before Rice's arrival, Kibaki's foreign minister issued a sharp rebuke for anyone trying to pressure Kenya into a deal.
    Those comments were seen as a rebuff to foreign powers supporting a power-sharing arrangement to end the turmoil that has affected one of the West's allies in its fight against al Qaeda and ruined Kenya's image of stability.

    "Kenya is a friend. Kenya is also an independent and proud country with independent and proud people. And so, this is not a matter of dictating a solution to Kenyans. But what I hear is the impatience and the insistence of Kenyans that this be resolved," Rice said.
    Both sides of Kenya's political divide have agreed to an independent review of the contested ballot -- but not what to do about it or what form a power-sharing administration might take.
    Although Annan reported considerable progress in last week's talks, Kenyans are waiting for a breakthrough on the contentious plan for a "grand coalition" that he has advocated.
    Government officials have said the only power-sharing being considered is giving opposition members ministries in Kibaki's half-filled cabinet. But that proposal is unlikely to satisfy the opposition when discussions resume on Tuesday (February 19).
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