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PNU and opposition MPs form team to solve election crisis

Details

Published on Friday, 01 February 2008 06:29

MPs from across the political divide have formed an inter-party parliamentary group to spearhead efforts to end the current crisis in the country.

Amani forum national chairman Joseph Nkaissery addresses the Press at Parliament Buildings on Thursday on the national crisis. With him is the regional chairman Samuel Poghisio. Photo/ PETERSON GITHAIGA

The decision to form the group was reached unanimously by about 105 MPs following deliberations over a number of issues concerning the wave of violence. 

The MPs held a crisis meeting at the Old Chambers of Parliament on Tuesday where they agreed on among other things, to petition President Kibaki to reconvene parliament as soon as possible to allow them to comprehensively discuss the prevailing issues in the country. 

They further undertook to engage all leaders in taking a responsibility to address the current crisis both at the national and constituency levels to build consensus among political leaders. 

A 24-member committee bringing together 12 MPs from the Party of National Unity and 12 from the Orange Democratic Movement was mandated to spearhead the IPPG 2’s activities.

Gachoka MP the Rev Mutava Musyimi and Bureti’s Franklin Bett were picked as joint chairmen of the committee representing the Party of National Unity and the Orange Democratic Movement.

Joint secretaries are Ms Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) from PNU and Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) from ODM.

Its terms of reference were broadly identified as working towards an immediate end to the ongoing killings and looking into the real causes of the current crisis, especially the disputed presidential election results. This will include looking at issues of historical injustices.

The team will also determine long-term legal and institutional reforms needed for a lasting solution to the problem. 

Other members from the PNU are Mr Samuel Kambi, Dr Noah Wekesa, Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri, Mr Gideon Ndambuki, Mrs Linah Kilimo, Ms Wavinya Ndeti, Mr Ali Hassan Abdirahman, Mr David Simiyu, Mr Joel Onyancha and Mr Ekwe Ethuro. From ODM and its affiliate parties are Mr Cyrus Jirongo, Ms Elizabeth Ongoro, Mr Aden Duale, Mr Isaac Ruto, Mr Richard Onyonka, Prof Hellen Sambili, Mr Simeon Lesirma, Mr Josephat Nanok, Mr Gaddae Godhana and Mr Francis Chachu Ganya.

Legislators who attended the Tuesday forum pledged to work together and support each other irrespective of their political affiliations in the pursuit of peace, justice and tolerance. 

They noted that each one of them had a part to play in peace building and conflict mitigation. The MPs expressed concern over rising violence in the country. 

They agreed that it was imperative for them, as elected leaders, to put their party and personal interests aside and take individual responsibility as well as a sense of ownership in addressing the problem. 

They also agreed that it was important for them to visit the affected areas and listen to people’s grievances. The committee has grouped the affected areas in six clusters and will visit them in that order. In the first cluster are Naivasha, Nakuru, Mogotio, Timboroa and Eldama Ravine, in the second is Eldoret, Kitale, Matunda, Burnt Forest, Entebbes and Cherengany. In the third is Kericho, Sotik Narok and Transmara, in the fourth Kisumu and Kakamega, in the fifth Nyandarua, Laikipia and Samburu and in the sixth is Nairobi, Thika, Limuru and Kikuyu. They will also visit Mombasa region.

ODM-K national chairman Samuel Poghisio, who is chairperson of the AMANI regional forum, in his remarks challenged the MPs to be cautious about the current problem and actively take part in looking for a way out. 

Mr Joseph Nkaisserry, who is the chairperson of AMANI Forum Kenya Chapter, also addressed the meeting, encouraging the MPs to take part in peace building and conflict mitigation efforts. 

The parliamentarians, however, also expressed concern over their own safety following the killing of one of their own- Embakasi MP Mr Melitus Mugabe Were of ODM. He was shot dead on Tuesday as he waited for the gate of his Woodley estate house to be opened at 12.30 am.

The MPs consequently petitioned the Government to provide them all with security, a petition that will be sent through the Minister for Internal Security.

Members supported the ongoing mediation process and resolved to hold regular IPPG 2 meetings over the current crisis. 

They undertook to address the underlying causes of the problem through both the legislative and oversight roles of parliament and further put in place mechanisms to encourage community dialogue.

The Tuesday meeting also agreed that leaders must observe decorum in their speeches and refrain from making inflammatory statements that may worsen the situation.

The steering committee will continue holding regular meetings. Regular inter-party parliamentary group meetings are also expected to take place as part of consensus and confidence building.