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Give Raila And Kibaki a Chance, MPs Tell Colleagues

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Eleven MPs from Kisii have asked their Rift Valley counterparts to give President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga time to implement land reforms. The MPs who met in a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday evening said the Rift Valley MPs should not frustrate the Government's plan to resettle the displaced.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, two Assistant ministers, Mr Richard Onyonka and Mr Joel Onyancha, said it was unfair for the MPs to hold the President and the PM at ransom over missed Cabinet positions. "The Rift Valley MPs like other Kenyans are raising pertinent issues on land matters, but it is morally wrong for them to hold back concerted efforts to resettle the IDPs," said Onyonka.

Onyancha, an assistant minister for Heritage, Culture and Social Services, said the Abagusii had suffered greatly and needed assistance to return to their farms. The Bomachoge MP said the issue of IDPs was like an accident scene. "Any good Samaritan who arrives first must strive to save lives before asking what caused the accident."

Onyonka, who is an assistant minister for Foreign Affairs, said it was wrong to give conditions before the victims were allowed back to their rightly owned farms. The Kitutu Chache MP said Kibaki and Raila had demonstrated their willingness to bring about reforms, including a new constitution, which would address land issues.