Dave Opiyo
15 May 2008
Nairobi — A crucial Cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday where among other things a decision is expected to be taken on whether the government should hold talks with militia groups in the country.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga disclosed that the meeting, the first of the grand coalition cabinet, will discuss the outlawed Mungiki sect.
He made the announcement from his office at the Treasury when he met a delegation from Mt Elgon as a statement was released by the Presidential Press Service on the cabinet meeting.
The PPS dispatch said President Kibaki will chair the first Grand Coalition Cabinet in State House this morning, but did not give details of the agenda.
Too weighty
The PM described the matter as too weighty to be determined by one individual hence requiring a collective decision by the grand coalition government.
"There's no way an individual can make such a decision unilaterally," said Mr Odinga moments after meeting a delegation of Sabaot clergymen, elders and professionals in Nairobi.
Thursday's Cabinet meeting - to be held at State House, Nairobi - will be the first formal gathering of members of the grand coalition.
Mr Odinga, at the same time, said there were no contradictions by government officials over plans to handle militia groups in the country.
Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti on Tuesday said the government would not negotiate with Mungiki sect members or any other outlawed militia.
This appeared to contradict an earlier promise by Mr Odinga that the government will dialogue with members of the sect and address their grievances.
Members of the outlawed Mungiki sect have in the recent past caused mayhem in Central, Nairobi and Rift Valley provinces.
Said Mr Odinga; "There are no contradictions on the side of the government over this matter. What the minister (Prof Saitoti) said is right since there are currently no ongoing talks with any of these groups at the moment."
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The Govt should do the do the following: 1. Commission research to find out existing youth groups around the entire country. 2.Group them into categories eg organized and not so organized. 3.Brand them by their activities eg.militia groups,sports groups, enterpreneurs,idlers, criminals, etc. 4.Invite their leaders or representatives to a face to face meeting. 5. Allow each group to express their views uninterupted . 6. Ask them to suggest workable solutions to their problems. We hear of many disgruntled youth groups: kayabubu in Mombasa ,Mt Elgon Saboat land army, kalenjin warriors,taliban,angola -musumbisi,mungiki,chinkololo,jeshi la mzee, jeshi la Embakasi etc,etc,etc. All these groups comprise Kenyan youths with genuine grieviances.They can also have constructive ideas on how best to reform themselves. Why not afford them a forum instead of eliminating them enmass as you would do with pests?? Has it occurred to anyone that these so called (idle)youths could build roads, dig boreholes oe wells,build bridges, farm large shambas, or even clean up Townsewers,rivers, drainages, streets,etc under a special programme paying them a dollar a job/day (or even 50 to 100 bobs a job)instead of them staying idle and engaging in crime? (There used to be a Bob a job in my scout days!) Minister Mutula Kilonzo, start by having them clean Nairobi River! Meanwhile,it would appear Kikuyu youths are being killed just because they are kikuyu-not because they are Mungiki.It is operation finish kikuyu youth under the Mungiki cover!Central province leaders are too daft to see this evil scheme.
The Govt should do the do the following: 1. Commission research to find out existing youth groups around the entire country. 2.Group them into categories eg organized and not so organized. 3.Brand them by their activities eg.militia groups,sports groups, enterpreneurs,idlers, criminals, etc. 4.Invite their leaders or representatives to a face to face meeting. 5. Allow each group to express their views uninterupted . 6. Ask them to suggest workable solutions to their problems. We hear of many disgruntled youth groups: kayabubu in Mombasa ,Mt Elgon Saboat land army, kalenjin warriors,taliban,angola -musumbisi,mungiki,chinkololo,jeshi la mzee, jeshi la Embakasi etc,etc,etc. All these groups comprise Kenyan youths with genuine grieviances.They can also have constructive ideas on how best to reform themselves. Why not afford them a forum instead of eliminating them enmass as you would do with pests?? Has it occurred to anyone that these so called (idle)youths could build roads, dig boreholes oe wells,build bridges, farm large shambas, or even clean up Townsewers,rivers, drainages, streets,etc under a special programme paying them a dollar a job/day (or even 50 to 100 bobs a job)instead of them staying idle and engaging in crime? (There used to be a Bob a job in my scout days!) Minister Mutula Kilonzo, start by having them clean Nairobi River! Meanwhile,it would appear Kikuyu youths are being killed just because they are kikuyu-not because they are Mungiki.It is operation finish kikuyu youth under the Mungiki cover!Central province leaders are too daft to see this evil scheme.