SUNDAY SALON, NAIROBI
By Kwani on Feb 12, 2008 in Commentary, Events, Featured, Features, Kenya, Opinion, Politics, Post-Election Crisis, Reading
A PROSE READING SERIES
Nairobi - New York - Chicago
LET PEACE PREVAIL
Featuring four writers; four unique voices in a tranquil outdoor setting:
Simiyu Barasa
Parselelo Kantai
Charles A. Matathia
Prof Wambui Mwangi
Blending both fiction and non-fiction, these writers will bring a literary eye to bear on the Kenyan psyche in the wake of violent and troubled times.
TIME: 7 – 9 pm
DAY: Sunday 17th February
VENUE: Kengeles, Lavington Green
TICKETS:KSh 300 (Available at the Door)
The usual Free Cocktail will NOT be available. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross in support of Kenya’s internally displaced families.
I tried sending my post-election comments below earlier, but wasn’t sure if they went through.
PNUs comments denouncing the roadmap announced by Mr. Koffi Annan at the Kamukunji were extremely disconcerting. I was surprised at Martha Karua’s cry that his statement had put her negotiation team in distress and caused great embarrassment. One would think that the rampant violence, thousand lives lost and the hundred thousands displaced had already put all our leaders in utter distress and embarrassment. Or are they that far removed from the crisis that has ravaged our nation?
Mr. Annan’s purpose here is not to mediate a solution based on political aspirations; he is here help pull our nation out of the hell it has fallen into. If individuals take offense to his ostensibly aggressive mediation, save us your self-pity and start thinking about Kenya as a nation. No one should be playing to win so that we can all loose. They should all realize by now that we live in a time that Kenyans have become intolerant of political abuse. I think some politicians may assume that as long as violence is suppressed, the economy will stabilize, the displaced people will rebuild their lives, ethnic tensions will somehow subside, and the land crisis will be resolved somewhere away from their property. Or they simply don’t care!
It’s obvious that Mr. Annan realized that it was becoming impossible to conclude a deal in Nairobi because too many self-absorbed politicians were pressuring their colleagues to not compromise on certain issues under any circumstances (although a few of the mediators probably didn’t even need to be pressured). This isn’t an exercise in mediation strategy; this is about the future of our nation. The sad part is that even the most well intentioned, impartial and democratic mediation efforts can not be forced. It requires the genuine political will and follow-through from all stakeholders involved. A will that overlooks temporary stakes in the political pie. Because the truth is, the situation could easily digress much further. One only needs to look south to Zimbabwe to witness the depth and speed of the downward spiral of a country once known as the bread-basket of Africa. I plead with mediators; do not drag us down that road.
Sam Imende, Nairobi
Samuel Imende | Feb 13, 2008 | Reply