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Kenya: Special Team to Probe Militias
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The Nation (Nairobi)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Nairobi
Parliament sought to assist the Government unravel the mystery behind outlawed armed groups such as the outlawed Mungiki sect.
A notice of a motion was given Wednesday seeking to establish a select committee to investigate armed militias in the country.
The committee is expected to report back in three months.
Giving notice of the motion, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni (PNU) said the Government had failed to end the menace posed by illegal militia groups, and it was necessary for the House to find a solution to give Kenyans peace.
He accused the Government of failing to protect the public from the atrocities of Mungiki, Sabaot Land Defence Forces (SLDF), Baghdad Boys, Sungu Sungu, Taliban and Mulungunipa among others.
"In view of the organised groups in the country that have mostly recruited the youth resulting in the loss of lives and given that the Government has failed to contain them and noting that they still pose a threat to the security of Kenyans, this House grants leave for the establishment of a parliamentary select committee to investigate the origins, form, mode of operation of armed groups and matters related there unto," reads the motion.
Among those proposed to be members of the select committee are Mr Kioni (Ndaragwa, PNU), Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K), Government Chief Whip George Thuo (Juja, PNU), Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti, PNU), Mr Elias Mbau (Maragwa, PNU).
Others are Mr George Nyamweya (nominated, PNU), Mr Johnstone Muthama (Kangundo, ODM-K), Mr Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu, Kanu), Mr Ekwee Ethuro (Turkana Central, PNU), Mr Ntoithia M'Mithiaru (Igembe North, PNU), and Ms Millie Odhiambo (nominated, ODM).
Clamp down
Mr Kioni's motion comes a day after Internal Security minister, George Saitoti admitted the gravity of the insecurity posed by the armed groups. He said new ways were being explored to clamp down the organised militias.
But Prof Saitoti ruled out talks with the militias.
"It is true we are dealing with a complex matter of not just one group. It is an issue of dealing with a plethora of militias. The only thing as a minister that I will not compromise on is the security of Kenyans and their property," he said.
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Reported by Bernard Namunane, Owino Opondo and Odhiambo Orlale
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