Kenya update: Failed talks

I spoke with Don yesterday. Right now, things still seem very up-in-the-air in Kenya. Things look up, and then something happens again... Like yesterday's mediation talks. The chairman of the African Union, Ghanian President John Kufuor went to Nairobi to meet with both parties. Here's a summary of the results of the mediation talks, from BBC:

The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said that the talks failed after President Kibaki refused to sign a document agreed by both sides and approved by World Bank Country Director Colin Bruce.

The key points of the document are that they want:

• a credible, independent and impartial investigation into the issues arising from the elections
• to determine whether a re-run of the elections is necessary
• if so, to provide a time-frame for recommendations on the structure of government up until the re-run

But the president's office was quick to disown the document.

"The government had offered dialogue which was to be facilitated by President John Kufuor but Orange Democratic Movement leaders have not been responsive," a statement said.

Mr Kibaki had invited his rival to hold face-to-face talks on Friday but Mr Odinga refused, unless the talks were led by international mediators.

So it seems like things are in a bit of a stale mate mode. Please pray that talks will move forward and resolution be made to solve the crisis.

Here's a good explanation on the discrepancies that led to the fall-out in Kenya.

Short update from Kenya

I got a text message from Michelle in Kipkaren today. It seems like things are slowly returning to normal in Kenya, though there is still a lot of tension in the air.

When Michelle and others were driving to Eldoret today, they were saddened to see the destruction along the way. About half of Turbo—the nearest town on our way to Eldoret (about 7 miles from the center)—had been burned down, including the gas station. I am waiting to hear if the AIDS clinic where we take all the patients in our home-based care program, sustained any damage. I am praying that it was safe. It’s a stone’s throw from the torched gas station.

Please also join us in praying that God would bring beauty out of the ashes and chaos in Kenya!