Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - Kenya's religious leaders are actively committed to helping find a peaceful solution to the country's dramatic crisis. A delegation of religious leaders, including Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Kenya, had separate meetings with President Mwai Kibaki and with the Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Local Church sources told Fides that representatives of the different religions will also be present when the two political leaders meet on 11 January. However Odinga has said that rather than bilateral talks he would prefer negotiations in the presence of the international mediator, John Kufuor, president of Ghana and African Union president at the moment.
“We are pinning great hopes on the Friday meeting” local sources told Fides. “Kenya needs a solution to restore stability quickly. Besides the issue of the Presidency, the question of constitutional reforms indispensable for a more stable political picture must also be discussed. A process of reform could include a government of national unity”.
Pending the meeting between the two leaders, the Opposition has cancelled demonstrations announced in recent days.
Officially the number of people killed in the violence is 486, however some estimate that as many as 600 or even 1,000 lost their lives. Then there is the question of 250,000 displaced persons in parts of Eldoret and Kisimu. “Despite appeals from the bishops, the people are still too frightened to return to their homes: until a stable agreement is reached, fear will keep most of these people way from their villages” the sources told Fides. Kenya also has 270,000 refugees from other countries. Kenya is a point of reference for neighbouring countries from the political and economic point of view: most foreign trade of central-eastern countries with no sea ports, passes by the port of Mombasa, one of Africa's most important ports.
Kenyan finance minister Amos Kimunya, said the economic impact of the outbreaks of violence could be more than one billion dollars. The minister said it may be a year before Kenya can repair the damage done. In 2005 Kenya's GNP was 18.7 billion dollars.(L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2008 righe 30 parole 414)
