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Friday, April 18, 2008
Kenya Tourism Federation Update
Mr. Jake Grieves-Cook
Friday 18th April 10 a.m. Nairobi
POLITICAL UPDATE:
Yesterday was an historic day for Kenyans as the Grand Coalition Cabinet was sworn in at State House, Nairobi, in the final step to establish the power-sharing government which brought an end to the post-election crisis.
While the political crisis and civil unrest have definitely ended, with peace and calm restored across the country, the leadership recognised that the new government has to focus on some important tasks to re-establish Kenya in its former position as one of the continent's most stable and economically successful nations.
President Kibaki called for the speedy resettlement of the internally displaced Kenyans who are living as refugees and indicated that this will be a priority for the government.
The new Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, pledged to lead a campaign to ensure that violence is ended and particularly mentioned the activities of the Mungiki sect which has been involved in demonstrations and clashes with police in the past week, urging that violent acts should stop immediately so that ordinary Kenyans could go about their daily lives in peace.
Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who had played such an important role in bringing both sides of the political divide together to resolve the crisis, was present to witness the swearing-in ceremony and expressed his pleasure that a peaceful settlement had been achieved, urging Kenyan political leaders to continue working together to achieve the implementation of all aspects of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act which is the basis of the power-sharing arrangement and Grand Coalition. Uganda's President Museveni of Uganda and other East African leaders were also in attendance together with international diplomats.
US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger congratulated the new government and commented, "This was very positive for Kenyans and the agenda that has been laid out is very challenging. The signs are good and the United States will be present to give its assistance."
SECURITY UPDATE:
Following the swearing in ceremony and statements made by Prime Minister Odinga, the outlawed Mungiki sect has now announced that it has called off its campaign of protests that led to violent disturbances in parts of Nairobi and several towns earlier this week. The Mungiki spokesman asked matatu owners to resume operations and business people to reopen their shops as usual and confirmed that any threat of violent disturbances has been lifted.
With the swearing in of the new Grand Coalition Cabinet as the final step in the resolution of the political crisis that had plagued Kenya for weeks, and the ending of Mungiki violence, it is now hoped that the whole country can get back to normal and stakeholders in the tourism industry will be concentrating on working for a recovery of tourism in the months ahead, following the adverse impact suffered by the sector as a result of the post-election crisis.
