Kibaki Meets Annan

The following takes place in private at Harambee House between 10 am and 11 am one day after ODM called off its planned national countrywide rallies to protest the stalled political negotiations being held to resolve the disputed December general post election crisis

Annan & Mkapa: (rising politely) Good morning your Excellency….

Mkapa: (smiling, bowing slightly with outstretched hand) Shikamoo Rais Kibaki

Kibaki: (enters the room smiling) …gentlemen, sit please….Sijambo Benjamin, keti tafadhali

Annan: (sitting down) thank you sir, and thank you for agreeing to meet us so early this morning

Kibaki : thank you for the work you are doing and the support you have provided so far towards addressing the political situation in Kenya

Annan: (leaning slightly forward, speaking softly) well your excellency, that is why we are here this morning. Both negotiation teams have made almost no progress towards reaching an agreement on governance, despite the fact that they had the entire weekend to consult on their positions

Mkapa :(nodding) ndio Rais, daktari anasema ukweli

Kibaki: (turning round to face both men) a lot of progress has been made in the mediation talks and I am hopeful that a sustainable solution to this political challenge will be achieved

Annan: yes sir that is why I decided to directly engage both you and Honourable Raila Odinga personally to ensure that the talks reach a successful conclusion

Kibaki: (sounding curious) have you spoken to my friend Raila yet?

Annan: yes sir, and I was able to effectively persuade the Honourable member of your parliament to not go ahead with his earlier planned action intended for tomorrow….

Kibaki: (brightening) very good! That is why I commended you earlier my friend Ann. …..

Annan: (gently interrupting) sir, I only managed to appeal to him to postpone the planned mass action rallies until further notice….

Kibaki: (visibly taken back) postpone?

Annan: yes sir. Sir, the negotiations were at a critical stage when they stalled, and it is now urgently imperative upon both Honourable Raila and your excellency to reach a solution to the crisis at the negotiation table and not through planned street actions

Kibaki: (wearily sitting down, sighing)

Annan: Sir, as you are aware, I had set a deadline of 48-72 hours for both your party and that of Honourable Raila to agree on short term solutions to the crisis

Kibaki (nodding silently)

Annan: (continuing) the slow pace of our negotiations is due to disagreements between your negotiators and the ODMs, as well as the hardline posititons of both camps which has hampered the success of the talks.

Kibaki: (speaking slowly) its because they want me to create a prime minister position and I am prepared to do so-we shall do so, but only under the current constitution and in a coalition agreement

Annan: (leaning wearily back in his seat) yes your excellency, I understand your position

Kibaki :(speaking strongly) you know Annan my friend, there is no constitutional vacuum in the country

Annan: (nodding) yes sir, of course sir

Kibaki: (rubbing his hands together) now of course I am personally receptive to making constitutional changes that reflect the wishes of Kenyans

Suddenly a door opens and Martha Karua walks in briskly, leans over and whispers directly in Kibaki’s ear. Immediately after, she turns round and walks out without looking in the either Annan or Mkapa’s direction

Annan: (startled at the site of Karua; sweat breaks on his brow, and he takes a handkerchief out of his immaculate pocket and mops his forehead)

Mkapa: (slightly pale at the sight of Karua) are you ok Daktari? Do you want some glasses of water?

Annan: (shaking his head) no thank you Ben, I am fine, just the heat

Kibaki: (suddenly rising and walking behind a desk) gentlemen, I am afraid I have to be leaving soon but as I was saying I would like a speedy finalisation of this coalition government

Annan and Mkapa instinctively rise to their feet puzzled

Kibaki: (smiling) honourable Raila knows he can be a coalition partner under my Government even as a prime minister because the current constitution allows for this

Annan and Mkapa nod silently

Kibaki: (continuing) so, I am ready and willing to share responsibilities of my Government with ODM; please let my friend Raila know this

A door opens and Kalonzo Musyoka, Professor Sam Ongeri, Martha Karua, Mutula Kilonzo and Moses Wetangula walk single file into the room in silence. Smiling, Kalonzo walks upto Kibaki and stands by his right side looking directly at Annan and Mkapa

Annan: (thinking silently to himself….the meeting must be over)

Mkapa:(silently thinking to himself…..jeshi la mzee au nini hawa watu wa bara)

Annan: (smiling stiffly) thank you for your time your excellency

Mkapa: (smiling cheerfully) Kwaheri Rais, hamjambo wazir wa serikali