It Was Difficult to Convince Raila and Kibaki to Sign Peace Deal in 2007 - Kofi Annan Reveals

Former UN secretary General Kofi Annan has disclosed that making ODM leader Raila Odinga and former President Mwai Kibaki sign a peace deal in Kenya after 2007/8 post-poll violence was one of the most difficult mediating processes he had ever endured.

Annan revealed that it was hard to convince Odinga and Kibaki to sign the peace agreement since both of them believed that they had fairly won the election.

“Nine years ago today, during the violent political crisis in Kenya, Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga signed the National Accord and Reconciliation Act. My role in mediating was amongst the most intensive and enduring of all my interventions,” the former Secretary General wrote on twitter.

Annan added, “Several key elections in Africa have unfolded much more peacefully since then, but we have a long way still to go. Every African must be able to trust in our political institutions, in the supremacy of the rule of law and in the accountability of our leaders.”

During the disputed election, tallied results indicated Kibaki had won the election but the Opposition leader claimed they were rigged.

It took the intervention of Annan who compelled the two to sign the deal which saw Odinga become the Prime Minister while Kibaki the President ending the chaos that were witnessed in the country.

At least 1000 people lost their lives during the controversial 2007 election while 600,000 were rendered homeless.

  • .