Kenya’s presidential rivals agreed Thursday to share power in a coalition government aimed at ending post-election chaos that has killed 1,000 people and brought this once-promising East African nation to the brink of collapse.
Under the terms of a deal signed by President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, their parties will divide Cabinet positions 50-50 and amend the constitution to create a prime minister position for Odinga, who will share power with the president.
The agreement marks a significant step toward resolving Kenya’s political crisis, and most citizens, who had feared that failed talks would trigger more violence, gave a collective sigh of relief. Likewise, the news brought praise from the U.S. and other Western governments, which had come to count on Kenya as an economic partner and source of stability in East Africa.
But many Kenyans also said they were taking a wait-and-see attitude to determine whether the rivals are genuinely committed and willing to work together. They noted that their nation still faces sizable challenges, including a shattered economy, rising ethnic tensions and 350,000 people displaced by violence since the Dec. 27 elections.
“They are solving their political problems but not our problems yet,” said Alfonse Mutuku, 24, who lives in a displacement camp near Limuru, north of Nairobi.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is leading the mediation effort, said the deal was the only way to break Kenya’s stalemate.
“Compromise was necessary for the survival of this country,” Annan said. But he cautioned that the work must continue to resolve the nation’s social and humanitarian issues. “The journey is far from over. In fact, it is only beginning.”
Underscoring tensions that still grip the country, police fired tear gas at Odinga supporters celebrating on the streets of downtown Nairobi shortly after the signing ceremony.
The compromise marks a switch from three days ago, when Annan disbanded bickering negotiating teams and warned that his effort had reached an impasse. With help from visiting Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Annan began direct discussions with Kibaki and Odinga on Wednesday.
Key details of the coalition government have yet to be determined, including how the president and prime minister will share powers, how to divide Cabinet posts, how disputes will be resolved and what happens if the coalition falls apart. Parliament is due to convene March 6 to begin revising the constitution.
In the final hours of negotiation, Kibaki made significant concessions to the opposition, agreeing to a constitutional amendment he had ruled out a day earlier.
His change of heart came amid intense pressure from the United States and others in the international community, which warned of possible sanctions and isolation for those perceived to be blocking a deal.
In addition, neighboring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, pushed Kibaki to settle because their economies rely heavily on Kenyan ports and have suffered during the unrest.
After signing the agreement, Kibaki called on Kenyans to forget the ethnic clashes of the past two months and live together in peace. “Kenya has room for all of us,” he said.
Annan said he would begin working Friday on the final phase of his mediation effort, addressing some of the underlying issues, such as land disputes, economic marginalization and ethnic discrimination. Government leaders are preparing to launch a truth and reconciliation commission.
