Soon after the disputed Dec 27th 2007 presidential result was deliberated by the Electoral Commission of Kenya Chairman Samuel Kivuitu who rigged the elections in favour of the incumbent president Mwai Kibaki instead of the opposition leader Hon, Raila Odinga (The people’s president) whom a larger section of the Kenyan population deemed was the rightful winner - the country found itself locked in political crisis that saw the opposition leaders resorting to calling for Mass Action where majority of their supporters would turn out in huge numbers to the streets in protest of what they believed was an Election process that was strategically designed to deny their preferred candidate an opportunity to assume the leadership of the country. Though the entire process called for by the opposition leaders was to proceed under the banner of peace, there are those amongst their supporters whom hijacked the opportunity to loot and steal from homes and shops while breaking non portable properties and attacking those opposed to their subscribed party/candidate.

Riots became a social norm as people tried in vain to access venues where they were to converge with leaders from the ODM party as the government (PNU) side chose to employ states mercenary in its efforts to contain the situation from getting out of hand. Homes and churches were set ablaze killing innocent lives including those of women and children as farms were set afire thereby consuming huge tonnes of produces. As a result we saw an increase of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) whom had been ejected from their places of residence based on their tribal affiliation. As though this was not enough rioters went ahead and paralyzed the transportation industry as they uprooted railway lines while barricading some of the main roads leading to essential areas both within and without the country. This in effect impacted negatively on the Countries Economy as the Countries business was interfered with enormously.

As violence escalated through out the entire country, outside forces through the international community and the African union felt the need to intercede as international concern about the Countries situation increased. There was therefore need for the international intervention to help mitigate the situation by trying to broker a peace agreement between the two feuding parties that had precipitated the violence due to their hard-line stances in terms of how a resolution was to be reached. These in effect saw different eminent persons sent into the country to help mediate and bring sanity back to a country that was vividly loosing its cohesion - with the last group of mediators being that which consisted of Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and current wife to former South African President Nelson Mandela - Madam Graca Michelle; after unsuccessful trials by other eminent persons such as Peace Laureate Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and Ghanaian President John Kurfor.

Soon after the team was constituted and the rallies that had been scheduled to take place called off: The Government plus the opposition selected members from their respective parties to work with the mediators to help reach a common ground under NATIONAL DIALOGUE, TRUTH JUSTICE AND RECONCLIATION TEAM. Through their tireless efforts, this group of both Local and International Leaders managed to have agreed upon some of the contentious issues spelled out in the articles which were; (1) solving the Political Crisis in the Country (2) Comprehensive Constitutional Reform (3) Devolution of Power (4).Long Term Solution towards addressing Land Issues and Historical Injustices. Even though the first two Articles were resolved unanimously by both parties the third one appeared to be more contentious than the other two with both sides failing to agree on to how power was to shared amongst the two parties, but that never brought the negotiations to a complete halt - for chief mediator (Koffi Annan) suspended the talks with the selected members from both sides only to extend a call to the respective touch bearers of the two parties (Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga).

After extensive discussions with the two leaders it was agreed the there be created a position for the Executive Prime Minister which was to be entrenched in the constitution through a parliamentary act. And in an effort to assure the Electorates that a solution to the political crisis was forthcoming the two leaders from the protagonist parties in company of Chief Mediator Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and the incumbent Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete who had to extended his stay for a day longer after visiting Kenya on an official visit to help find a solution to the political stalemate joined by members from the two respective parties (PNU and ODM) together with Local and International dignitaries at the Harambee House for the official signing of the agreement.

With this gesture from the two leaders Kenyans were at last optimistic of finally seeing an end to the violence that threatened to resume in full-scale in case the two parties failed to have come to a level playing ground. The challenge that our leaders are now being faced with is to ensure that the same principle agreed upon are enacted in the constitution to its latter implementation. With that having been said, I hope that in their efforts to ensure that such a despicable occurrence shall never occur again in future history of this country - our leaders need to fully comprehend the significance behind addressing historical imbalances that has now turned to be our National Landmark, which was of coarse the primary essence of the Post Election violence.

I would like to mention only but a few of some of these issues which apparently do call for imperative attention - and this are; unemployment, housing, distribution of land and resources, education and health care system. The rate of unemployment which unfortunately affects most of the youths needs to be a priority in the next tenth parliament as one of its immediate agendas. There’s need to build capacity and expand our existing industries while inventing new ones that shall of coarse accommodate the increasing number of the unemployed and the under employed population. With the same speed there should be constructed better standardized housing structures that would replace the dilapidated ones in most of our towns while being able to capture and harmonize with the ability of the targeted recipients. Land issues and distribution of our countries resources needs to be redressed to help settle the dispossessed and to empower the underprivileged. Lastly, we need an up gradation of our education and health care institutions so as to be able to offer our general masses effective optimum services.

Our history has been one that has supported and condoned inequitable ways in terms of distribution of wealth and resources - not to mention available opportunities thereby establishing that kind of set up as a social fabric since pre-colonial to post colonial era. The gap that exists between the haves and the have nots in this country is totally beyond any rational explanation. I therefore urge our leaders to fully commit their concerted efforts in trying to honor their political, social and economical obligation(s) by responding positively to these social vices that turned our beloved sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers in to irrational being(s) as they tried to voice out their grievances through unorthodox means like killing one against the other based on ethnicity.

The youth(s) should remember that they do have a moral and solemn responsibility of ensuring that they continue to leave cohesively as brothers and sisters as they agitate for their social, economical and cultural progression. As we pursue our aspirations as the future leaders of this Beloved Country of ours, we need to also put the interest of our women and children in harmony with law while encouraging gender sensitivity in all areas of development. Respect for human life and personal property should direct our pursuits for freedom, justice and equality as we now get into the process of healing and reconciliation as a people of Nation.

We all ought to respect and embrace the spirit of democracy that has gradually been evolving in our Country and served as an example to our neighboring countries most of whom are renowned for incessantly fighting against each other for failure to tolerate alternative views from the leftist aspect - in order for we as a nation to be able to fully appreciate in due time the true meaning of supporting a democratic political environment.

Therefore, I would like to urge our political leaders from both the opposition and the government to uniformly work together to make the prospects of establishing a grand coalition government a reality in words and action or risk seeing this Country melt down to its absolute self-annihilation. A time to offer selfless service to the masses for the purpose establishing an equitable society is now. For, “justice delayed is tantamount to justice denied.” As one of my close associates always says, A luta - continua..

Article written by Oscar Odhiambo (Ran-D) Indymedia - Kenya.