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Editorial: A baby step toward peace in Kenya

Talks between rival leaders must continue.

Last update: January 27, 2008 - 8:07 PM

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TOWARD A SOLUTION

"President Kibaki must permit the opposition meaningful participation in the government. [And opposition leader Raila Odinga] must must seek a peaceful resolution and reject violent protest and disorder."

Barack Obama, U.S. presidential candidate, whose father was Kenyan.

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The face-to-face meeting last week between rival leaders in Kenya was an important first step -- even though violence intensified over the weekend and the two sides have accused each other of being unwilling to compromise. Former U.N. leader Kofi Annan managed to bring President Mwai Kibaki and opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga together for the first time since postelection violence broke out on Dec. 27.

Consider the session an ice-breaker for further discussions, one that should encourage supporters on both sides to stop the killing and intimidation.

Suspected vote rigging by the Kibaki administration sparked bloody riots that have killed nearly 700 and created more than 250,000 refugees. Much of the violence involves fighting between members of Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe and Odinga's Luo ethnic group.

Restoring peace to the once stable nation is crucial to save lives and return order. In addition, Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa are major centers of commerce for Kenya and that entire region of the African continent. The country has reportedly lost more than $1 billion in business and tourism revenue during the past month.

The unrest 8,000 miles away hit closer to home last week when Minnesotans learned that Wesly Ngetich, a two-time Grandma's Marathon winner, was killed in his native Kenya. Race organizers who had gotten to know Ngetich during his many visits to Duluth said the 34-year-old farmer and father of three young children had planned to return to Minnesota this year in hopes of becoming the first runner to win the race three times.

Minneapolis has connections, too. In 2000, Eldoret, Kenya, became one of eight international sister cities to Minneapolis. In that city, several dozen people were killed recently when a mob set fire to a church. And Twin Cities-based nonprofits such as the International Leadership Institute and Give Us Wings have sponsored many volunteer efforts in Kenya.

Once peace is restored, the nation must still untangle the corruption and favoritism that has gone on for so long. Though Kenya had been considered relatively stable, violence erupted so easily because of long-standing grievances over economic and political inequality. As Maina Kiai, chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights points out, the nation should not just return to business as usual without first addressing the underlying issues of tribal resentment, social injustice and economic disenfranchisement. He is wisely calling for a national reconciliation conference, similar to ones held in South Africa and Rwanda, to promote healing.

But before that can happen, the two reportedly stubborn, unyielding leaders must keep talking, urge their supporters to reject violence and embrace a system of shared power.

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