Vincent Bartoo and Steve Mkawale
3 March 2008
Nairobi — At least 20 Rift Valley MPs have endorsed last week's peace deal and pledged to honour it.
The MPs led by Eldoret North legislator, Mr William Ruto, said Rift Valley would "stay firmly on course" and support the implementation of the deal.
The MPs declared in the presence of US Ambassador Michael Renneberger that they would rally their people behind the agreement.
They were speaking during a special prayer meeting held at the Eldoret Sports Club to celebrate the end of the political crisis.
Renneberger was the guest of honour during the prayers organised by Emo Community Development Society.
On the issue of resettling Internally Displaced People (IDPs), thousands of who are camping in Rift Valley, Ruto said the residents were willing to co-exist with other Kenyans, but stressed the need for the immediate establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.
"Resettling the IDPs must be immediately accompanied by a truth and justice commission so that we can unmask the reasons that led to the post-election mayhem," he said.
He denied that the post election violence in Rift Valley was planned and blamed some state security agents for "spreading such rumours".
MPs who accompanied him included Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Prof Margaret Kamar (Eldoret East), Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South), Peris Simam (Eldoret North), David Koech (Mosop) Boaz Kaino (Marakwet West), Franklin Bett (Bureti), Lorna Laboso (Sotik), Moses Lesonet (Eldama Ravine), Lucas Chepkitony (Keiyo North).
Others were Kipkalya Kones (Bomet), Lucas Kigen (Rongai) and Magarer Langat (Kipkelion), William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Musa Sirma and Rachel Shebesh (nominated).
Meanwhile, Rift Valley MPs want police to suspend investigations into post-election violence until a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is formed.
The MPs claimed police were targeting innocent people under the pretext of pursuing those allegedly involved in killings and destruction of property.
They said only the commission, agreed upon in the mediation talks, would establish the real culprits behind the violence that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
"We do not want to obstruct justice, but we want the actual perpetrators of the violence to be brought to book," said Kutuny at a peace meeting in Koibatek District.
Lessonet demanded the release of 17 suspects arrested in connection with the death of Catholic Priest, Fr Michael Kamau.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
