In his first expression of wisdom and maturity, Kenya’s president Kibaki has declared his willingness to form a national-unit government with his chief political rival, Odinga. The idea of absorbing Odinga into a government led by Kibaki seems like the best possible way out of a very bad situation. To be sure, Kibaki is the ultimately beneficiary of any compromise that would end the political turmoil in Kenya — and still keep him in the presidency. Odinga will resent serving as Kenya’s second-fiddle, but there are good reasons for him to do so — even if he suspects (and probably rightly) that Kibaki stole the presidential election last month. First, Odinga will surely gain access to some of the machinery of Kenya’s government — and thus begin to reward his followers through patronage, a staple of Kenyan life. Second, Odinga may become president on Kibaki’s death. In ill health for some time, Kibaki, who is 75, may not last a second term. While he lacks the physical vitality to govern, Kibaki evidentally possesses sufficient ambition, having gone to great lengths to quickly swear himself in for a second term despite an ultra-close election that even according to official tallies barely gave him a majority. Surely, Odinga deserves a role in government and clearly he must be viewed as Kibaki’s eventual successor. By declaring his willingness to include Odinga in his own government, Kibaki effectively is providing Odinga with a new platform with which to challenge him.
Ghana’s president John Kufuor, current chair of the African Union, is ready to broker a settlement. Critics will carp that “national unity” governments never solve problems and sometimes worsen them. In Sudan, Kenya’s western neighbor, a government of national unity between northern and southern politicians has failed so far to deliver benefits. But at least the Sudanese compromise has limited violence and thus saved lives. In Kenya, such a “hollow” compromise can nonetheless do the same. For Kenyans, an end to the violence will be a great victory, however dishonestly achieved.