Patrick Mayoyo And Sollo Kiragu
26 April 2008
Nairobi — President Kibaki on Friday remained non-committal as he faced more demands for the freeing of suspects held over post-election violence.
Those arrested should be set free as part of the peace and reconciliation initiatives, Kipkelion MP Kiprono Magerer said.
The MP asked the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to consider granting amnesty to those held.
"As we work towards initiating peace and reconciliation among communities that differed as a result of the disputed presidential election, the Government should consider amnesty for many youths arrested in my constituency over post-election violence," he said.
However, President Kibaki did not respond to the request directly.
Mr Magerer said amnesty would hasten the ongoing plans to resettle persons displaced by the violence and also help in efforts to ensure reconciliation and peaceful co-existence.
The MP was speaking at Kipkelion Town during the second day of the series of peace rallies in Rift Valley led by the President and the Premier.
The rallies are being used to drum up support among the local communities for resettlement of those displaced during the post-election violence.
Mr Magerer was following up on the same issue raised by Agriculture minister William Ruto in Eldoret the previous day.
On Friday, when he took to the podium, Mr Odinga indicated that the President would respond on the amnesty request during his speech.
But in his address the President did not make any direct acknowledgement of the issue. Instead, he stressed the Government's commitment to fostering peace and reconciliation among all Kenyans and the resettlement of internal refugees.
"We are now asking Kenyans to forget their post-election differences and live in peace and harmony as before," he said.
Faulted
Roads minister Kipkalya Kones also supported the peace initiative, but told other communities living in Rift Valley Province to vote by the wishes of the local communities.
But Mr Odinga faulted him, saying that in a democratic society each individual had a right to vote for a candidate of his or her choice.
Internal Security minister George Saitoti said more than 2,700 refugees in Kipkelion District had returned to their farms while more than 6,300 were still living in camps.
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