By Xinhua
Nairobi : The Kenyan government said Tuesday it welcomed a visit by former UN chief Kofi Annan for mediating in the ongoing political crisis.
Annan is due to arrive in Kenya Tuesday.
A statement from Kenya’s foreign ministry disowned earlier hardline stance taken by cabinet minister John Michuki, who had played down the visit.
“I wish to point out that the government welcomes eminent African statesmen and personalities to Kenya to facilitate dialogue between political leaders in the search for a lasting solution to the current political situation in the country,” Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said.
The European Union (EU) Sunday joined the US in announcing that there would be no business as usual with Kenya until both parties in the ongoing political crisis in the country reach a compromise and stability is restored.
Graca Machel, the wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa were due to accompany Annan during his visit to Kenya.
The development comes as the EU, one of Kenya’s top donors, hinted at cutting its aid to Kenya over concerns about the fairness of elections.
EU election observers had raised serious concern over the fairness of the election, saying “the accuracy of the result is in doubt.”
The EU was considering suspending all aid and imposing sanctions if mediation efforts to resolve the crisis failed, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel said.
The crisis has dented Kenya’s democratic credentials and rattled Western donors who were hitherto very supportive of the government.
Police say more than 600 people were killed in riots following the announcement of Kibaki’s re-election.
Some 255,000 people had to flee their homes after the violence erupted, prompting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in a country more accustomed to sheltering refugees from neighbouring, strife-torn states.