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Minister Taken to Task Over Border Clashes
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 23:06
An enraged Mr Obure tabled the Kiliku Commission report at discussions chaired by the Gucha DC and accused some leaders of lying to the the inquiry that he had supplied Kisii youths with nails to make arrows.
"I assure you, Abagusii, that we cannot build this district and our country on falsehoods and mudslinging," he said.
The meeting, called to discuss how to end the Gucha/Trans Mara border clashes, was chaired by DC Hassan Noor Hassan at Ogembo. Present were all leaders from the district. The minister said his enemies were taking advantage of his silence to spread propaganda against him.
Tension rose when speakers accused three sitting MPs from Gucha of "maintaining silence" on the clashes, which have claimed close to 30 lives.
They demanded that the MPs Obure (Bobasi), Omingo Magara (South Mugirango) and Zephaniah Nyang'wara (Bomachoge) resign from Parliament, claiming they had failed to protect their people.
"If the MPs cannot defend us in our hour of need, then they should resign," said a retired headmaster, Mr Mr Nyambuga Ondabu.
But Mr Obure defended himself, brandishing a copy of the Kiliku report to prove his innocence.
The Minister said he had used Sh250,000 to defend himself before the Kiliku Commission. He did not elaborate.
The meeting passed twelve resolutions to help end the clashes. Top on the list was police patrolling the border and demand that they should not fire live bullets.
It also endorsed the banning of land leases and grazing of livestock in Trans Mara district by Gucha farmers.
The leaders resolved that animals seized by police on May 14 would be returned to their owners. A total of 34 domestic animals stolen by morans on June 6 will be surrendered to owners.
Mr Nyang'wara apologised to Gucha leaders for opposing Mr Magara's election early in the year. He said he had realised Mr Magara's potential in Parliament during the short time he has been there.
