Street protests in Kenya after unity talks collapse

Kenya's fragile political truce collapsed on Apr. 8 with the opposition pulling out of power-sharing talks with President Mwai Kibaki and its supporters launching angry street protests for the first time since a peace deal was signed six weeks ago. Police fired teargas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Kibera slum, Nairobi, who burned tires and blocked roads in protest at the deepening political impasse. Some shouted "No cabinet, no peace" -- a reference to Kibaki's failure to nominate a unity government, the key feature of the accord brokered by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan. According to witnesses, dozens of young men also ripped up railroad tracks and threw rocks at police officers in a scene reminiscent of the violence that convulsed Kenya in the wake of the Dec. 27 election. After lengthy consultations, the opposition leader Raila Odinga and Kibaki had promised to make public a new 40-member cabinet on Apr. 6. But the announcement was postponed after Kibaki was accused of reneging on a deal to share ministries, which was meant to reflect an equal balance of power. The proposed cabinet released by Kibaki at the weekend showed his PNU coalition retaining virtually all the important portfolios. Analysts say this goes against the letter and spirit of the Annan agreement. "This latest crisis in portfolio balance captures the astonishing lengths PNU is willing to go to ensure that it continues to monopolize power," Odinga, who is due to become prime minister in the new government, told a press conference. His Orange Democratic Movement party said that talks had been suspended. In response, Kibaki blamed the opposition for the delay in naming the cabinet, saying it had made unacceptable "new preconditions and ultimatums." The breakdown in relations has caused serious concern in Kenya. While the peace agreement ended the violence that had engulfed parts of the country after Kibaki's disputed election win, the tensions have not disappeared. Hundreds of thousands of people displaced by ethnic clashes have yet to return home. The economy was hard hit by the turmoil, and inflation is rising sharply. The seriousness of the deadlock is reflected in speculation that Annan may need to return to Nairobi to broker further talks. It has also caused deep unease in the international community, whose pressure helped seal the original peace accord. A western diplomat in Nairobi said the "cautious optimism" over the Annan deal was fast disappearing. "We are seriously concerned. Even before the breakdown, it seemed as if the parties were more concerned with sharing the spoils of power rather than governing the country effectively." In return for allowing Kibaki to keep the powerful finance, defense, internal security and justice portfolios in the unity cabinet, Odinga believed his party would control the local government ministry, as well as key infrastructure posts, such as energy and transport. Instead, they all went to PNU. Some analysts believe that Kibaki had no intention of ever sharing power equitably, despite signing the Annan agreement. "Kibaki was never convinced by this accord, and his signature was merely a tactical retreat that allowed Annan to go home," said Mutahi Ngunyi, a political scientist in Nairobi. "He wants to tire Odinga, perhaps to the point of pulling out of the government, which would then allow him to appoint his own prime minister." The eruption of protest on Apr. 8 was the first major riot since Feb. 28, when the rival politicians signed the power sharing agreement that was billed as the only way to end weeks of bloodshed after the disputed presidential election. The post-election violence killed more than 1,000 people, and drove hundreds of thousands from their homes; most of them are still displaced. Now, it seems, some of that instability has returned. Riots also broke out in Kisumu, in western Kenya, where witnesses said hundreds of angry opposition supporters blocked the road to the airport and stoned cars. Unruly protests were reported in several other towns. Police officials could not be reached for comment. By the close of business on Apr. 8, the Kenyan currency had dropped against the dollar, reflecting the serious damage a few protests can do to an already jittery economy.