Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - “I am hopeful, yet a bit skeptical,” a source from the local Catholic Church in Nairobi told Fides. On February 21, in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, the government has given consensus for the creation of the seat of Prime Minister, to be assigned to the opposition.
“The process in creating a role of Prime Minister should pass through the existing legislature, by way of amendment. It is yet to be seen whether or not Parliament has the intention of approving such modifications,” Fides’ source explained. “The positive aspect is that the two sides have modified their positions, that were initially too restraining. However, it is not clear whether or not this flexibility in negotiating is simply a power tactic or if it is truly occurring for the good of the nation, mainly for the reestablishment of peace.”
This apprehension has been confirmed by the fact that on February 22, the day on which a final agreement was expected to be made between the Party of Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader, Raila Odinga, the latter made an unscheduled trip to Nigeria. A spokesman for Odinga assures that the opposition leader will return on Saturday, February 23.
“I have no idea why Odinga would make an unscheduled trip to Nigeria, other than the fact that Nigeria must play an important role in the Kenyan crisis,” our source said.
Kenya is in a crucial situation at the moment. Although peace seems a possibility, the danger of a new resurgence of violence is also a reality. A recently issued report from the International Crisis Group denounces the fact that both sides are still making use of paramilitary forces. “The situation continues to be extremely dangerous,” Fides’ source confirmed. “In Kisumu, for example, the local civilians are under the control of gangs of teenagers that are being paid by someone. In one of the city’s neighborhoods, the people rebelled and killed some of the vandals that continue destroying property and killing people in the city slums. These groups say that, ‘their work is not over,’ meaning that the killing of people of the rival ethnic group must continue. Along the streets, there are stone barricades set up, as blockage points. With a simple telephone call on their cellular phone, the vandals meet to create a blockage point. They also use the cellular phones to continue sending messages of hate and propaganda.”
“In order to stabilize the situation, there is a need to overcome a tribal-based politic, founded on divisions, and other reforms are also necessary, for example, the administrative decentralization. Right now, all administrative activity must go through Nairobi. In order to access one’s own pension...you have to travel to the capital. This system is a breeding ground for corruption and inefficiency and creates frustration and exasperation. The country’s economy is in the hands of a small elite group of persons that consider themselves lucky if they can survive on 3,000 chelines. These are some of the deep roots of the hate that is disturbing the country,” our source concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides; righe 40, parole 508)
