Kenya in Crisis Day 57: Political Deal on the Horizon?

Published reports have deal being imminent between the government and the opposition in Kenya.





A political deal to end Kenya's deadly postelection crisis is expected by Friday, with the two sides having largely agreed on a new government structure, including a prime minister's post, officials said Thursday.
The prime minister's post is a major demand of the opposition, which accuses President Mwai Kibaki of stealing the Dec. 27 election. The agreement could mark a breakthrough in a political crisis that has unleashed weeks of violence leaving more than 1,000 people dead



Meanwhile, while there continues to be violence throughout the country, many on the ground report the situation improving. According to the website Ushahidi, several towns and cities report improving security situation.

In the past few days the security situation has really improved. The communities here are going on with efforts to restore peace through the elders and the clergy. Most of the youth have been advised to restrain from any violence as the negotiation go ahead. The area was tense yesterday from the news that the government side had written to KOFFI ANNAN protesting his statement to the members of parliament on a coalition government. The hopes of many, lies with the negotiation being spearheaded by the former united nation¢s secretary general H.E KOFFI ANNAN.

Due to the area being cosmopolitan, the youth who are the majority have split themselves to groups according to there ethnic backgrounds so as to provide security to their community members who have not fled the area.

...and

The Eldoret Pyramid of Peace is now mounted strategically in front of theEldoret Municipal Council Town Hall to serve as a monument to mark thestart of peace initiative in the region - thanks to a successful eventheld to day. The white painted Pyramid with catchy words "PYRAMID OFPEACE" is attracting alot of attention in the town with the white roseflowers placed round the pyramid in three layers. It signifies peace,peace and peace.

...though not everywhere is experiencing a calming, in Kakamega the situation has shown an increasing tenseness...

Chaos have erupted in Kakamega following an emotional return of the people displaced from Naivasha and Nakuru areas. A lorry full of the IDPs has raised emotions in an otherwise calm Saturday afternoon. Running battles have ensued in the town with marauding youths trying to invade the Kakamega Police Station where majority of the people displaced from the larger Western Province are residing.

The situation remains fluid and all interested parties will be watching to see if the deal is finalized tomorrow, and if in fact this deal is the breakthrough everyone has been looking for.