On Friday, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, mourned businessman Dr Chris Kirubi as a crucial mobilizer of attempts to end the 2007-08 election crisis sparked by a disputed election.
The two, speaking during a funeral service in Karen, emphasized the importance of business leaders in halting the post-election violence in 2007/2008, which led to the formation of a grand coalition government.
They both stated that Kirubi persuaded them to join the grand coalition government formed in the aftermath of the post-election crisis in which thousands of people died.
“Forming a grand coalition and sharing positions in the new government almost caused a stalemate. Two people who came to approach me to agree on a compromise included Chris Kirubi, he pleaded with me to agree to have a dialogue with Kibaki,” he said.
During meetings between the two principals at the remote Sagana State Lodge, an agreement was achieved that prepared the way for the announcement of the Grand Coalition Cabinet.
While expressing his condolences to the Kirubi family, the former Vice President echoed Odinga’s sentiments, recalling an episode in 2008 when he pushed him to behave in a way that would bring peace to the country.
“I remember when he came into my house in 2008 with two other people, the mission was simple; they told me to act in a manner that saves the country, this was after the 2007/8 post-election violence,” Musyoka added.
The leaders agreed on a power-sharing arrangement in which they would equally divide the Cabinet and other key roles, according to the Accord signed by Kibaki and Odinga.
In accordance with the Peace Accord reached on February 28, 2008, Odinga succeeded to the newly created role of Prime Minister under the new government.
Musyoka, on the other hand, was given the Home Affairs portfolio after several of his former ODM-Kenya colleagues were appointed to the Cabinet.
