The African Union (AU) Panel of Eminent African Personalities on Thursday expressed concern about increased ethnic violence that has rocked parts of the Kenya ahead of the 2013 elections. The panel’s chairman Kofi Annan told journalists at the end of his four-day visit to the East African nation that he was worried about the increase in tensions and violence that have occurred in northern, southeast and other parts of the coastal region. “Reports of militia groups reorganizing or being created are worrying and so it is vital that the agreed security sector reforms are carried out through,” Annan said during a joint media briefing with former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa. The team met the prime minister, the Chief Justice, the speaker of the National Assembly and other senior government officials. The former UN chief added that approximately 30,000 new internally displaced persons have been created as a result of the new violence. “I hope the government will get an effective way to resettle them as there have been issues with their host communities’ acceptance of the new people,” he said. “All Kenyans should be compassionate and help the displaced people get new homes,” he said. The panel also felt that Kenyans have learnt from the past and are determined not allow a repeat of the violence that occurred during the last elections. Annan added that politicians need to watch their language in order to avoid flaming tensions along ethnic lines. “Their behavior can have a positive or negative impact on the nation,” he said.
