13 Mar 2008 17:12:28 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Releads with commission of inquiry)
By Andrew Cawthorne
NAIROBI, March 13 (Reuters) – Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, whose disputed re-election triggered violence that damaged his country’s reputation for stability, has appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the Dec. 27 vote.
A statement sent from Kibaki’s office on Thursday said the panel would “inquire into all aspects of the General Election … with particular emphasis on the Presidential Election”.
The panel is expected to probe the tallying of votes “to assess the integrity of the results” and look into the Electoral Commission of Kenya’s independence among other issues.
For the full article, please see http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13843502.htm
Sent by Joram.
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Thank you Joram!
Just as important as threats to the power-sharing agreement is the inquiry into the presidential election. The fact that this inquiry is being set up by President Kibaki should be cause for alarm to all Kenyans. This calls to mind how Kibaki handpicked the same ECK officials who international observers credited with stealing the election on his behalf! Without an independent commission, the results of such an inquiry will be, for all practical purposes, null and void. And without justice and accountability, we can only expect Kibaki, his cronies, and other corrupt officials to continue the political culture of impunity that is the greatest foe to democracy in Kenya.
Kenyans must hold politicans accountable at all levels of government. In this regard, we would do well to borrow a leaf from the Tanzanian government. No politician, not even those at the highest levels of government, can be immune to justice. Sadly, unless Kenyans demand justice, we will always be waiting for international intervention, for someone to put a bandaid on an infected wound. We will be like grieving relatives who report an abusive husband to the police after the louse has succeeded in murdering his wife, after the fact–that is, after we have allowed the criminal to go unpunished for so long.
Regards,
Jaluo Press