Posted by Kenya President Mwai Kibaki has assured United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the coalition government that he formed with Prime Minister Raila Odinga in February is working wholeheartedly for the people of Kenya and had begun the process of entrenching reforms.
The two held talks on Monday night as Rice paid a courtesy at Kibaki’s hotel in New York City where the president is attending the 63rd session of the United Nations general assembly. Kibaki briefed the secretary of state on the progress Kenya is making since the signing of the National Accord early this year, a statement issued to the press on Tuesday said. He assured Rice that the coalition government was committed to implementing a report tabled by Independent Review Commission headed by former South African judge Johann Kriegler that has called for the disbandment of the Electoral Commission of Elections, among other radical reforms.
Bungled December 27 election sparked countrywide violence that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people and displaced 350,000 people in January and February.
Kibaki said his government and parliament had prioritized several crucial bills to pave way for the achievement of a new constitution, establishment of a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Ethnic Relations bill and implementation of comprehensive electoral reforms. He said his government was committed to implementing comprehensive land reforms policies as well as the resettlement of thousands of internally displaced Kenyans to enable them resume their normal lives and continue participating in nation building.
Source African Press Agency
