Church leaders in Kenya have welcomed the announcement of a power-sharing agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga as an important step to ending a two-month political crisis in the east African country.

Rival political leaders in Kenya have reached an agreement on a coalition government after weeks of bitter negotiations, former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan announced today, before a major press conference.

Election issues fresh Kenya and Pakistan, and the larger picture of democratic electoral processes, formed the focus for three public statements adopted by the World Council of Churches' central committee meeting in Geneva.

Ethnic and political divisions have prevented church leaders in Kenya from responding to the political crisis in their country, the main governing body of the WCC has been told by its general secretary, the Rev Samuel Kobia.

With peace seemingly returning to the troubled country, churches within and outside Kenya are now taking stock of the experiences from an ecumenical team visit made during a month of unrest and violence.

Some Christian leaders in Kenya have commented are worried at the inability of the country's churches to speak with one voice about the violence that has followed disputed presidential election results, leading to 1,000 deaths.

As mediation to solve the disputed Kenyan presidential election enters a critical phase, top-level figures from the two parties have met an international Christian delegation, which asked them to seek a compromise solution.

Talks aimed at resolving Kenya’s post-election violence have resumed in the capital Nairobi, amid fears among church and other groups that ethnic and political tensions are seriously worsening, in spite of efforts towards peace.

The Methodist Church and its development affiliate in Britain have confirmed the initial financial aid they are sending to Kenya to support victims of the post-election conflict. They are also appealing for further contributions.

As Kenyan churches are struggling to help prevent the country from descending into genocide, they envision a long term healing effort that will require the sustained engagement of international ecumenical partners.