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Kenya: Ministers, Media Clash Over Lack Evidence
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
3 January 2008
Posted to the web 2 January 2008
Samuel Otieno And Morton Saulo
Nairobi
A press conference by nine Cabinet ministers called over violence ended in disarray after they clashed with journalists.
The ministers, who spoke at the office of Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, almost came to blows with journalists after they were pressed to substantiate claims that the Opposition was fanning post-election violence.
The ministers were Prof George Saitoti (Education), Prof Kivutha Kibwana (Lands), Mr Morris Dzoro (Tourism and Wildlife), and Mr Henry Obwocha (Planning).
Others were Assistant ministers, Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri, Mr Peter Munya, Mr Joseph Kingi, Ms Betty Tett and Mrs Beth Mugo.
At one point, Saitoti had to restrain Kiunjuri from confronting a journalist who was pressing for answers to questions the ministers evaded.
The ministers, whose statement was read by Kibwana, had alleged that ODM was responsible for what is going on across the country.
When journalists put the ministers to task and demanded evidence of their allegations, the ministers went ballistic. Kibwana insisted that the attacks in ODM strongholds were evidence enough that the party was behind it.
When reporters demanded to know why the Government had not arrested any ODM leader over the allegations, the ministers turned prophetic.
"Perpetrators of wars against humanity may take long to be prosecuted, but one way or another, they will be brought to justice," said Kibwana.
A reporter from an international media house sought to know what the ministers meant by saying ODM had "rehearsed the genocide".
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Sensing that the Press conference would be chaotic, Saitoti limited journalists' questions and announced the end of the meeting.
The ministers then left the room in a huff murmuring among themselves.
Earlier, Saitoti had told journalists that they had a right to choose what to air and what not to.
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