How Many Times Does Kofi Annan Have to Fix Kenya?

by Michael Jones · 2010-02-16 10:34:00 UTC
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KenyaYou can be pretty sure that Kofi Annan doesn't really want the phrase "midwife of the Kenyan government" on his resume. Sure, two years ago Kofi Annan helped foster a coalition government amidst a political and electoral crisis that led to widespread ethnic violence that killed at least 1,300 people -- including a few Members of Parliament who were assassinated in broad daylight. The violent period in late 2007-2008 shattered Kenya's reputation as one of Africa's most stable governments, and had a ripple effect throughout the region.

Two years later, the country may be about to fall into the "rinse," "wash," "repeat" cycle. Turns out the Coalition government formed with the help of Annan -- where the position of Prime Minister was created for Raul Odinga and Mwai Kibaki was able to maintain his presidency -- is not getting along. At all.

The question is which of these two officials has power over cabinet offices. This past weekend, Prime Minister Odinga suspended two cabinet-level officials who were suspected of corruption. A few hours later, President Kibaki reinstated the cabinet officials. Cue madness.

"I think that what I've done actually has been within my constitutional powers, and that the president does not have the powers to countermand what I have done," Prime Minister Odinga said. Meanwhile, the two cabinet members in question -- Agriculture Minister William Ruto and Education Minister Sam Ongeri -- continue to show up for work, saying that only President Kibaki can suspend them.

Kind of makes the Norm Coleman vs. Al Franken debacle of earlier this year seem like child's play, eh?

Prime Minister Odinga has called on Kofi Annan to come back to the country and help solve what threatens to devolve into a crisis that could send Kenya two years back in time to a really bloody, nasty, and unstable period. Already some officials are pledging to boycott work until the situation gets resolved, which could paralyze the country, if not usher in atrocities.

The U.S., for their part, told both leaders to get their ship in order, siding somewhat with Prime Minister Odinga by saying that if officials are suspected of corruption, they should be suspended until the investigation is complete (a little bit of "do as I say, don't do as I do" foreign policy, but still, the point's there).

Of course, all of this is setting the stage for 2012 elections in Kenya, which could be another quagmire. Already, rival groups are purchasing AK-47s and G3 rifles to prepare for any election-related violence. Forget sticks and stones and signs of Sore/Loserman. Picture another thousand or so people being mauled and blasted if the Kenyan government doesn't get some sense of stability quickly.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Michael Jones
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