Expectations that former UN chief, Mr Kofi Annan, who jetted into the country on Tuesday night, will bring together the two warring groups and chart a path out of a crippling post-election impasse — which has touched off an economic meltdown and threatens a complete social breakdown — were quite high last night.

But the bloodletting continued unabated.

The country also remained in the cross-hairs of the donor community. The World Bank (WB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) were the latest to join in the fray with a chilling proclamation.

“The current situation could drive two million Kenyans into poverty, reversing the gains made over the last few years,” the two institutions said in a joint statement. “Business confidence is being undermined.”

The statement added: “We wish to continue working with the people of Kenya … but it is difficult to do so effectively in an environment of instability”.

It further said that both the WB and AfDB will, accordingly, continue to monitor developments closely and keep programmes under review, while making necessary adjustments as the situation evolved.

But this did not dim the optimism.

The crisis has been occasioned by a stand-off between PNU and ODM over the outcome of the presidential vote. Orange party leader, Mr Raila Odinga, says he won the election and it was stolen from him. But PNU maintains President Kibaki, who was quickly sworn-in after the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Mr Samuel Kivuitu controversially declared the results, won fair and square.

“The ultimate objective is to have a solution that would bring peace and reconciliation,” Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi said ahead of the talks.

Former South African First Lady Mrs Graca Machel and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni — the only foreign leader to congratulate President Kibaki over his disputed re-election — arrived on Tuesday afternoon.

President Kibaki, Vice-President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Foreign minister Mr Moses Wetangula and his Internal Security counterpart, Prof George Saitoti, were at hand to receive the dignitaries

ODM mass protest

Machel, who gave her husband Nelson Mandela’s message of hope to Kenyans, said: “When I left home, he wished me all the best in the negotiation. He wishes all the best for Kenya and Africa as a whole”.

She added: “I’m positive the crisis will be sorted out amicably and an end will be brought to the violence in which over 600 lives have been lost”.

On Tuesday, ODM emerged from a day-long consultation session to announce it would pick its negotiation team once Annan establishes the rules of engagement.

Annan will head the team comprising former Tanzanian President Mr Benjamin Mkapa and Graca. The team will be working with the former African Presidents Mr Joachim Chissano (Mozambique), Sir Ketumile Masire (Botswana) and Mr Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia).

Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, ODM secretary-general, also said they would put their case to Ugandan leader Museveni as the chairman of the East African Community (EAC).

But the Orange party ruled out calling off mass protests.

“We don’t want to pretend that things look good here by calling off mass protests simply because mediators are around. It’s our right to enjoy peaceful assembly. So the mass protests will continue,” Nyong’o said.

The Party of National Unity also assumed a new hardline position.

Kalonzo, who heads PNU’s 10-member talks team, ruled out any negotiations with ODM, saying the talks constituted a forum to dialogue on ways to bring down political tension.

The party also dismissed the possibility of power-sharing, throwing a spanner in the works ahead of the talks.

“Our friends on the other side are talking about forming a negotiating committee. There are no negotiations. This is dialogue in the spirit of Kenya,’’ Kalonzo, who spoke after chairing a Parliamentary Group meeting of the coalition government and which was attended by more than 40 legislators at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi, said.

“It is not about powersharing. Our Constitution does not allow for losers to share power with winners. We beat them during the elections,’’ Makadara MP, Mr Dick Wathika, said.

The party also said it would not sit at the same table with Pentagon member Mr William Ruto and party chairman Mr Henry Kosgey.

Their reason was that the two are pursuing a different agenda.

But even as politicians sat in conference rooms, precious lives continued to be lost.

Youths suspected to be members of the outlawed Mungiki sect overran and took over Elburgon town. Sniffing tobacco and chanting war cries, they attacked a motorist and burnt him to death in his car. They barricaded all roads leading in and out of Molo town.

More killings continue

In Kipkelion, seven more people were killed, bringing the death toll of those who have died in the district to 29. Four bodies were discovered by villagers in the bush at Mutaragon village in Kipkelion division on Tuesday morning.

“The bodies, which have been taken away by the police, had deep cuts while others seem to have been hit with blunt objects,” said a provincial administrator, who declined to be named.

Rival groups battled it out most of the day in Nairobi’s Korogocho, Huruma and Mathare slums. Four people were killed in the skirmishes.

In the border of the North Rift and Western Province, the violence took a new twist when erstwhile political allies turned on one another.

Fighting raged even as MPs Mr George Khaniri (Hamisi), Dr Sally Kosgei (Aldai) and Mr Elijah Lagat (Emgwen) tried to broker peace.

And another internationally renowned marathoner, Wesley Ngetich, 34, was shot in the chest with an arrow during fighting in his hometown of Trans Mara, not far from the world famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Three weeks ago, former Olympian Lucas Sang met his death in the hands of a marauding crowd on a night that another top athlete, world marathon champion Luke Kibet, narrowly escaped death.

Official Government figures released on Tuesday put the number of those killed so far at 685, but the Opposition said it could be over 1,000.

Special Programmes minister Dr Naomi Shaban also said the number of those displaced had reduced from 258,836 to 222,177.

But Nobel Peace laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, regretted that as the current political crisis persisted, President Kibaki continued to remain aloof and unreachable.

“Internationally, the conflict is presented as ‘ethnic cleansing’ and another “Rwanda’ in the making since Kibaki and Raila are from two communities,” she said.

Kenyans, she noted, bury their heads in shame, anger and frustrations as they continue to plead with the President, but State House appeared out of reach.

“Why is it difficult for Kibaki to personally pick a phone, as they sometimes do, and ask Raila to talk? He is unreachable. He is near yet so far,” she said.

She called for the beginning of a healing and reconciliation process among Kenyans.

She said the current political impasse would be resolved by understanding the root cause of tribal clashes.

“This time round, let Kenyans not sweep tribal clashes, demonstrations, murders, rapes and destruction of property under the carpet as they have always done. Only when the truth is known and justice is received can anxiety be reduced and wounds heal,” she said.

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The election chief said he was surprised at the action the LSK Chairman, Mr Okongo Omogeni, had taken.

“I believe I won the award for my past contribution to society and Kenya in general,” Kivuitu said in a letter to Omogeni.

He said it was “amazing” that Omogeni linked the award he received in 2006 to his role in the discredited General Election.

Kivuitu, who has been silent since LSK took the action for allegedly bungling the elections, said the reasons for the award were spelt out and no lawyer protested then.

He insisted he was not to blame for election malpractices, adding this “would be established in due time”.

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The complaint states that crimes against humanity and State-sponsored terrorism were being committed to selected population.

Party Secretary-General, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, alleged that more than 1,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured.

Nyong’o added that most of them were victims of excessive force used by security forces.

Those named as respondents include all Cabinet ministers, Commissioner of Police, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, Administration Police Commandant, Mr Kinuthia Mbugua, and his GSU colleague, Mr Mathew Iteere.

The party has now asked the court’s Chief Prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno–Ocampo, to respond urgently to their complaint since the crimes are continuing.

“Kenya is party to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, and we have therefore today (Tuesday) filed a complaint with the court,” said Nyong’o. Accompanied by the party Communication Director Mr Salim Lone, Nyong’o said the repercussions from the fraudulent election continued, as Kenyans grapple with the severest crisis since Independence.

Nyong’o said claims by the Government that police were reacting to ethnic violence by ODM supporters were untrue.

He said the ongoing security crackdown in western Kenya and Nairobi was pre-planned.

Nyong’o claimed the State agents were continuing the so-called ethnic clashes.

Nyong’o named the areas most affected as Kisii, Aldai, Emgwen, Endebess, Kipsigis, Kipkelion, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Kasarani and Lang’ata.

ODM also condemned the police, who it said allowed armed gangs to attack other communities and then arrested the victims.

Nyong’o warned that unless checked, the situation would get out of control.

“We believe a quick response by the court will deter individuals and the State from continuing with their crimes,” he said.

The party also launched an appeal for contributions to foot medical and funeral bills incurred by families of the post-poll skirmishes.

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—Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins

THE TRAGEDY of Liberia, the only country in Africa founded on the American ideal and whose capital city Monrovia is actually named after a US President — James Monroe — is a powerful cautionary tale for both the world’s only superpower and Kenyans on the eve of their 10th consecutive General Election.No country in Africa has ever lent itself to the US agenda like Liberia did for decades in the 1930s, ’40s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and no country on this long suffering continent has suffered like Liberia has, with the possible exception of Somalia.

Making his first visit to the lakeside town since the post-election violence broke out across the country after President Kibaki’s disputed re-election, Raila ran into thousands of equally emotional supporters, many of who broke down and wept.

Pall-bearers carry caskets bearing bodies at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu, during a funeral service for victims of police brutality. Picture by James Keyi

The Lang’ata MP, who was accompanied by ODM Pentagon members, Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr William Ruto, fought back tears as he viewed bodies of some of the more than 100 people killed in the town.He then addressed an ecumenical prayer service at the Moi Stadium for those killed in the region.

“These people killed by (State) agents are the heroes of this country. They died while demanding justice,” said Raila as he wiped tears with a white handkerchief.

He said ODM would file a case of crimes against humanity against President Kibaki at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

The killings by police across, he claimed, had been well planned by the Government.

Overwhelmed by the presence of church leaders and the victims’ relatives, Raila stared into the sky for seconds then declared: “Our people are being killed like dogs, but no amount of bullets and intimidation will stop us from getting back the seat we won during the elections.”

He told the crowd that filled the 30,000-capacity stadium to keep up the fight until Kibaki vacated State House “for its rightful owners”.

At one stage, silence fell on the stadium when Raila broke into a song: “Sitarudi nyuma milele”. And the crowd roared back in support.

A crowd at the funeral service for the people killed in post-election violence, on Monday. Mr Raila Odinga and other ODM leaders attended the prayers at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

As the cries reached a crescendo, Raila appeared overwhelmed by the demands and asked to be given one of the placards that had a touching message.He temporarily held the placard aloft before passing it over to Kisumu Town West MP, Mr John Olago Aluoch.

Raila told ODM supporters in Nyanza to return to the streets on Thursday to press for Kibaki’s resignation.

“We are resuming mass action on Thursday. The fight continues,” he thundered.

The thousands of people who braved the afternoon sweltering heat and swirling dust had been waiting for Raila since 8am.

When the Lang’ata MP arrived shortly after noon, they rushed to meet him, causing a security scare.

Many could be heard crying that Raila had grown thin. “Ma ekak jogi chando wuodwa. Ose mana dhero kod juma achiel yawa! (This is how these people are persecuting our son. He is already thin).

Then they began to sing freedom songs. “Baba Yetu Raila Odinga, Tawala Kenya, Tawala!… “No Raila, No Peace! No Raila, No schooling! We Don’t Want Peace! We Want Justice! And Kibaki Must Go!”

They also turned their anger at Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whom they accused of sending soldiers to Kenya to kill ODM supporters.

“Museveni’s soldiers are killing our people!” they chanted.

Raila asked the Luo to live peacefully with their Kisii neighbours, saying the Abagusii community had overwhelmingly voted for him, but their votes “had been stolen by President Kibaki”.

“We should have seven of the 10 parliamentary seats in Kisii, but Kibaki men stole the votes and we only got four. The Kisii are our people. We must not touch them,” he said.

Raila said he was ready to talk to Kibaki, but only in the presence of an international mediator.

“Kibaki lost the elections and must vacate State House now. He is illegally sitting there,” he said.

Earlier, Ruto and Mudavadi had worked up the crowds when they said they had prepared two questions for the former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, who is set to chair mediation talks.

“We will ask Mr Annan why Kibaki has not gone back to Othaya after losing the presidential elections. We will also ask why Raila’s swearing-in ceremony as the Fourth President of the Republic of Kenya has been delayed.”

Ruto said: “We shall also ask Mr Annan why we cannot go for repeat elections if some people are doubting that Raila did, indeed, win.”

Said he: “Our position is clear. Kibaki cannot be president by force because no amount of guns will keep him in power.”

Ruto accused Kibaki and his Cabinet of playing politics as the country burned.

“They are behaving as if nothing is happening, yet thousands of people have been killed, injured or lost their homes,” he said.

Mudavadi said Kibaki’s team had started to fan tribal clashes in various parts of the country to create fear among ODM supporters.

“We have evidence that the Government has sensed that there could be a re-run of the presidential election and are causing panic in ODM strongholds,” said Mudavadi.

He added: “They are inciting our people to fight so that they will not vote when a re-run is called.”

The prayers were organised by more than 20 denominations. Catholic Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth and Bishop Mwai Abiero of the Anglican Church led the Mass.

MPs present were Mr Aluoch (Kisumu Town West), Mr Ochieng’ Daima (Nyakach), Mr Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu Town East), Mr Charles Lilechi (Shinyalu) and Mr Manyala Keya (Lurambi).

There were light moments when the crowd demanded that a Legio Maria priest who had been left out of the programme be allowed to pray.

Cries of ‘Legio! Legio” forced the organisers to usher in the Rev Ouma Janabi, who was dressed in sacks, to offer a winding up prayer.

Earlier in Kakamega, ODM vowed not to relent in its drive to have Kibaki step down following last year’s disputed elections, saying he did not win the presidential elections.

Raila said Government officials had misused police officers “by instructing them to act adversely against those who rejected the presidential results”.

“I know you are very angry and you have every right to feel so. Your victory was stolen by the same people who are now killing you,” he said.

He urged Kenyans not to give up, saying ODM was still determined to get what was rightfully theirs.

“Like the River Nile, we have come all the way from Cherangani Hills in Kenya to Lake Victoria then Sudan and Egypt. We are now near the delta,” said Raila.

The team held inter-denominational prayers for people killed by police during the mass protests.

On landing at the Kakamega Airstrip, the team proceeded to the Kakamega Provincial General Hospital to visit victims of violence.

Raila claimed that the Electoral Commission of Kenya Chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu, was forced to announce the flawed results or face dire consequences.

He said Kibaki would not succeed in using the police force to remain in office illegitimately.

“Kibaki has about 100,000 security officers against over 30 million Kenyans,” he said.

Ruto said ODM would continue to put pressure until justice was done and Kenyans got the president of their choice.

“You become president by winning, not by being defeated. Our victory has been delayed, but we will eventually get it,” said Ruto.

More than 50 people died in Kakamega, Butere, Mumias and Lugari districts during the election violence.

Kakamega Provincial General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Godrick Onyango, told the Pentagon members that most of the victims brought to the hospital had gun wounds.

“We have established that a 53 people died from bullet wounds,” said Onyango.

He said the number could be higher since other bodies had been buried and not reported, especially in Mumias, Webuye and Butere.

In Vihiga District, Mudavadi heard that 36 cases had been reported at Mbale District Hospital.

Mudavadi, who met the Medical Officer of Health, Dr D Ong’ong’a, said it was unfair for Government security organs to use excessive force against innocent people exercising their democratic rights.

Ong’ong’a said of the 36, 18 people had died, 15 from gunshot wounds.

A 15-year-old boy was among those shot in the back.

“The boy died,” said Ong’ong’a.

Another victim, Mr Arthur Kidiga, told the ODM leaders that he had lost his legs.

— Reports by John Oywa, Peter Atsiaya, Allan Kisia and Joel Okwayo

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