Kenya's Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua has denied reports that the Swiss government had denied her a visa to travel to Geneva for an official trip.She termed as ‘malicious and baseless’ reports published in a section of the press on Sunday that she cancelled her trip to Geneva because of a visa hitch.“I obtained a visa to travel to Switzerland on February 29th, as is manifested on my passport,” she said.Karua was scheduled to travel to lead a government delegation to Geneva to attend the 7th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“I declined to travel and instead asked my Permanent Secretary to make the statement on behalf of the country as is the usual practice in such circumstances,” she told.
The Minister also added that winter was part of the reason why she opted out of the trip.“Among other reasons, I opted to remain behind to relieve stress because my country is heaven to me,” she said on a lighter touch.
ANNAN LEFT
Chief mediator Kofi Annan flew out of the country Sunday after mediating a power-sharing deal between feuding leaders, but urged Kenyans to respect the rule of law as a final solution to a political crisis is sought.
Tough negotiations led by Kofi Annan, EX-UN secretary General will now be chaired by Oluyemi Adeniji, Nigeria's former foreign affairs minister and former chair of the African Union's council of ministers. Mr, Annan left for Switzerland with a stop-over in Uganda for African Green Movement conference.
Annan had previously been entertained and on his while he is not leaving Kenya for good, had this to say:
"Kenya has a lot to offer the world, let's stick together, work together to build a unified, healed and reconciled nation. It can be done, but do not leave (it) to politicians alone. Each and every one of you has a role to play,"
