Canada urges Kenya to prosecute those behind unrest
OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier on Tuesday urged Kenya's new coalition government to prosecute perpetrators of post-election violence.
"Kenya's government must ensure incidents of violence during the post-election crisis are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice," Bernier said in a statement.
"Canada welcomed both the political solution that ended the post-election crisis in Kenya and the coalition government established last week.
"However, hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced by the violence. Kenya's reconciliation process must address the legitimate security concerns of these people and ensure that perpetrators of violent acts are brought to justice."
Bernier also praised former UN secretary general Kofi Annan's successful mediation that ended Kenya's post-election crisis, and said Canada would provide 4.3 million dollars to UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to help those affected by the violence.
Annan helped broker a power-sharing agreement under which opposition leader Raila Odinga, who insists he was robbed of victory in December presidential elections by incumbent Mwai Kibaki, became prime minister.
Odinga's accusations of election fraud against Kibaki sparked tribal fighting, revenge killings and police crackdowns that claimed at least 1,500 lives across Kenya and displaced hundreds of thousands.
