According to the local and international media, Kenyans have heaved a sigh of relief. Crisis averted. Our leaders have been pictured smiling, their concerns ameliorated. They will not lose power. At least not yet. It is as though we have discovered a taste for what plagued us.

Read more from Keguro Macharia here.

I must, we must all, be optimistic about this new agreement. It is a chance for transparency in the short term but unless we put in place stringent accountability measures, the evils brought on by mistrust, corruption and tribalism will return and rise to new heights.

This coalition agreement represents for me the culmination of a political journey. Initially I supported Kibaki's government. It is true that he has put in place a macroeconomic policy framework that has the potential to greatly improve Kenya's fortunes.

Read more from Kipchirchir Boit here.

In mid-2002, Kenyans were treated to a great surprise when following years of division, a selection of their ethnic potentates met together and formed a grand coalition named NARC, the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition.

Note the emphasis on words denoting unity and togetherness, and the triumph of the whole over the fraction. Four words in a name, all affirming the same idea. It did not work out, it really did not. Like a bad movie, it was panned by the critics and the protagonists showed little on-screen chemistry or potential. And now, the re-run.

Cartoon from Patrick Gathara here.