Former UN chief Kofi Annan on Friday said he was pleased that Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have signed an agreement that will pave the way for an election violence tribunal.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, Annan, who mediated talks that led to the formation of a coalition government in Kenya, said the agreement for the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence (CIPEV) will end the culture of impunity and shepherd institutional reforms in Kenya.
"The implementation of CIPEV's proposals will go a long way towards ending the culture of impunity and spearheading much-needed institutional reforms in the country," said Annan.
"I note that the parties to the agreement will now prepare and submit to the National Assembly a draft bill for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Kenya," he said.
Both Kibaki and Odinga agreed on Wednesday to form the tribunal within hours of a deadline set out in a report into the deadly clashes that erupted after last December's elections.
The court will seek to try the ringleaders of the violence. Parliament now has 45 days to set it up to begin hearings by Marchor a sealed list of suspects will be handed over to the International Criminal Court.
The deadline for Wednesday's agreement was set out by a commission of inquiry into the violence, chaired by Justice Phillip Waki, which reported in October.
That commission also handed over a list of suspects, some thought to be prominent politicians, to Annan.
"I trust that the bill will reflect the spirit of CIPEV's proposals and incorporate all its key provisions. I urge Kenya's leaders to redouble their efforts to implement the CIPEV recommendations and to respect the suggested timeline for action," Annan said.
The former UN chief also noted continued progress on electoral reform and lauded Parliament for passing the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill setting the stage for the implementation of the crucial reforms recommended by the Independent Review Commission (IREC) on the 2007 elections.
"Moving forward on the reform agenda is imperative for building a more stable and democratic Kenya," said Annan.
Kenya's electoral commission was dissolved by lawmakers on Wednesday, a key recommendation of another inquiry into the election.
Some 1,500 people died in the post-election clashes and 300,000others fled their homes.
Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing deal in February to bring an end to the violence and formed a coalition government.
Source: Xinhua
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