Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Kenyans everywhere have been celebrating the historic handshake last week. On Wednesday morning we thought the mediation talks were doomed. The two sides had been captive to hard-line positions. They had been going in circles and Kofi Annan suspended the talks in frustration. Some ODM leaders threatened to begin mass protests by the end of the week. Newspapers published stories of tribal militias and preparations for war if the talks failed. Kenyans everywhere were swallowing hard and preparing for the worst. . .And then, the news came: after talks with Chief Mediator Kofi Annan and the jovial Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, President Kibaki and Raila Odinga had come to an agreement. Peace would prevail! Kenyans took to the streets in spontaneous celebration. In one moment the atmosphere in this country had changed. The hatred and the fear and the pain were pushed aside. There is hope. . .Kenyans have decided to work together!

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