January 07, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 27, 1428

NAIROBI, Jan 6: Kenyans across the political divide prayed for peace on Sunday while aid workers sought to bring relief to nearly 200,000 refugees from post-election violence that has killed hundreds.

“Our leaders have failed us. They have brought this catastrophe upon us. So now we are turning to the Almighty to save Kenya,” said Jane Riungu, leading her five children in their best clothes to a hilltop church outside Nairobi.

One week after the announcement of President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election ignited protests, riots and looting around the east African nation, there was little sign of him meeting opposition rival Raila Odinga to sort out the crisis directly.

Would-be mediators, including Washington’s top Africa diplomat Jendayi Frazer and South Africa’s Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, shuttled between both camps.

Ghanaian President John Kufuor was due to visit in coming days in his capacity as chairman of the African Union.

A Kibaki statement on Saturday that he was ready to form “a government of national unity” was met with scepticism by the opposition. It says he stole the Dec 27 vote and is occupying the president’s seat illegitimately.

Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wants Kibaki, 76, to quit and an international mediator to broker talks prior to a new election in three to six months. The ODM was also accused of vote-rigging in its stronghold areas.

“We are not interested in Kibaki’s solution to this problem ... He has nothing to offer as he did not win the election,” Odinga said at his Orange House headquarters in Nairobi.

Government spokesman Alfred Mutua accused Odinga of trying to “use the back door to gain power” by refusing to negotiate with the president or use the courts to contest the vote. The ODM says the courts are packed with Kibaki allies.

“This kind of grandstanding does not help anyone in this country. If Honourable Raila will not speak to President Kibaki, do you expect Kibaki to kneel down to him?” Mutua said.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, a Kibaki ally, said in a statement read on state television that he “hoped peace and legality would prevail in Kenya. Kenya’s peace and security is Ethiopia’s peace and security”.

Meles was in touch with both sides, and had received a message from Kibaki delivered by Kenyan Education Minister George Saitoti, the statement said.—Reuters