Status on the Progress to resolve the Political Crisis in Kenya

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 20

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 3 OF 19 FEBRUARY 2008

MR S SIBOZA (ANC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) Whether any progress has been made to resolve the political crisis in Kenya; if not why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO611E

REPLY:

(1) YES
The mediation process between the Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over the disputed Presidential election result is still ongoing.

After a period of intense negotiations the Parties reached an agreement on a number of issues:
• The creation of an Independent Review Committee;
• This Committee would be mandated to investigate all aspects of the 2007 Presidential Election and make findings and recommendations to improve the electoral process;
• The Committee will be an non-judicial body made up of Kenyan and non-Kenyan recognised electoral experts of the highest professional standing and personal integrity;
• The Committee will submit its report within 3 – 6 months. It will start its work no later than 15 March 2008;
• The findings of the Independent Review Committee must be factored into the comprehensive electoral reforms that are envisaged.

On the need for a political settlement to resolve the crisis it was agreed that:
• Recognising that since there is a serious crisis in the country a political settlement is necessary and an effective way of promoting national unity;
• A political settlement is needed to manage and implement a broad reform agenda to address the root causes of the crisis and deepen and broaden democratic foundation,

The reforms identified are:
• Comprehensive Constitutional reforms;
• Comprehensive electoral reforms
• A truth, justice and reconciliation commission;
• Identification and prosecution of perpetrators of violence;
• Respect for human rights
• Parliamentary reforms;
• Commitment to a shared national agenda in Parliament for these reforms;
• Other legislative, structural, political, and economic reforms