afrol News, 4 February - South African business magnate and former Secretary General of the governning African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa, has pulled out of Kenya's crisis talks after he was accused of being bias.

Ramaphosa's negotiation skills led to democracy and constitutional rule in South Africa and abrogation of apartheid.

He arrived in Nairobi on Friday to beef up onging talks involving the government and opposition.

The Kibaki side questioned the impartiality of Ramaphosa be cause he has had business ties with the leader of opposition Orange Democratic Movement, Raila Odinga.

“I have no business links or connections with Mr Odinga nor did I finance or otherwise support his campaign. We conduct business in Kenya with people of all political persuasions,” Ramaphosa told reporters, stressing that he would not be part in the mediation in the absence of support from both sides.

“Anybody who seeks the role of the mediator can only do so effectively if they enjoy the trust and confidence of all parties that are involved in the mediation process.

“I thought that I should withdraw and go back to South Africa so that I do not become a stumbling block myself."

In a statement, Kofi Annan who is leading mediating efforts to resolve Kenya's post electoral unrests, has "reluctantly accepts the withdrawal of Cyril Ramaphosa from the role of chief mediator. Withdrawal is a result of reservations expressed by the government."

The political unrest soon turned into "ethnic cleansing", leaving at least 1,000 people dead, displaced more than 250,000 others and seriously damaged the economy.

Some people described Ramaphosa's withdrawal as a sign that the government is not committed to the talks.

The two sides have resumed talks on Monday after signing an agreement laying out a framework that aims to end the violence and resolve the political deadlock. They are expected to discuss allegations of electoral fraud, the political crisis, humanitarian crisis, land and historical injustices.

Despite the progress, bloody violence continues to rock the country, prompting the ODM leader to call for the deployment of African Union or United Nations peacekeepers in Kenya. Odinga said he does not trust Kenyan security forces "because the police have been misused and we do not have faith in the army to be neutral."

By staff writer

© afrol News

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