THE PRE-NEGOTIATION PHASE: SHOULD WE BELIEVE THE UDA-AZIMIO SPIN DOCTORS?

Image Source: Nairobiwire.com

The Nature of the Phase

When the intent to negotiate a conflict is sounded by one of the parties who by that time has usually acknowledged the existence of a conflict; a lot goes like water under the bridge. In that phase, not many over the bridge are able to hear the rumble of surf. Yet, there is usually a beehive of activity in the waters beneath the bridge from the continuous state of flux of the waters underneath. Such is the situation in the early stages of a conflict resolution process, especially a mediation process. Mediation since nearly all conflict situations tends to involve some form of mediation. In other words, nearly all conflict resolution scenarios integrate the involvement of some perceived neutral third parties, whether mediation or negotiation or a hybrid of the two.

Everything Happens Behind the Scenes at Least to the Present

In other words, behind-the-scenes activities undertaken with painstaking confidentiality underscore the outright expression of interest by the belligerents to negotiate a conflict. It is regrettable to hear loudmouths such as illustrious UDA spin doctors like Mr. Itumbi claiming they were privy to all the behind-the-scenes details of the pre-negotiation phase (that midwifed the expression of interest from the Ruto divide to engage in the talks). To this end, the claim by Mr. Itumbi, the UDA Joseph Goebbels or chief propagandist that Mr. Gachagua was part of the inside circle responsible for determining the content of the talks is laughable. The inside circle within this stage's ambit is at best known by the main belligerents, not their henchmen.

Could Mr. Itumbi be the Read Manual for The Extremely Confidential Pre-Negotiation Talks?

To believe Itumbi's remarks is akin to believing the story that the reputable Mother Teresa had several secret accounts with stolen monies she had deliberately stashed in monist Switzerland to further her personal interests. A joke of the century. In the same way, it is laughable to believe Raila could entrust confidential information (classified information) on the goings-on behind closed doors to ODM's loudmouths like Babu Owino. Political loudmouths and spin doctors are a tool for another phase, their validity coincides with the time when the talks have unraveled and the blame game takes center stage.

Shrouded in Secrecy

To this end, a lot is destined to follow a most confidential process with perhaps only one or two principles from the Ruto and Raila divides involved. It is thus laughable to believe the lies cheaply peddled by UDA propagandist, Mr. Itumbi that they were privy to all details of the behind-the-scenes beehive of concerted efforts to have Mr. Ruto consider talks with Mr. Raila as the corner-stone to reintegrating harmony and Mr. Raila accept not to demonstrate on Monday 3rd, the demonstration he had christened 'mother of all demonstrations'.

To this end, I authoritatively infer that most of the Raila-led demonstrations-involved brigade find themselves strangers in Jerusalem; so do the loudmouths comprising the Ruto spin doctors who are more likely than not to have word last of the machinations already in high gear between the mansion on the hill and Capital Hill. It is the period of silence, silence as deafening as the creation of the world. In this phase, no one should claim to be too knowledgeable than all of us.

Authored by Paul Were