Lucas Barasa
16 May 2008
Nairobi — ODM has voiced concerns over alleged irregularities in last year's General Election to a team formed to investigate the polls fiasco.
Independent Review Commission chairman Johann Kriegler addresses a news conference as Prime Minister Raila Odinga looks on. Photo/PETERSON GITHAIGA
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the ODM leader, met the Independent Review Commission led by Justice Johann Kriegler at his Treasury office in Nairobi to briefly give the party concerns, wishes and expectations.
"We came to speak to you (Mr Odinga) in your capacity as ODM leader," Mr Justice Kriegler said after a joint press conference with Mr Odinga.
Mr Justice Kriegler said the tallying of presidential votes at Kenyatta International Conference Centre was ODM's main concern.
The commission chairman and Mr Odinga, however, refused to divulge more details of their closed-door discussion, only saying they were secretive.
Sources, however, said the ODM leader also raised concern over the preparations for last year's polls and the appointment and composition of the Electoral Commission of Kenya.
He is also said to have expressed concern over the use of civil servants and administration police to steal the votes and delay the announcement of the presidential results he claims to have won.
Mr Odinga said ODM was ready to appear before the Kriegler commission any time to give its views on the disputed polls.
The poll results sparked violence across the country, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and 300,000 displaced.
ECK announced President Kibaki who contested on PNU ticket the winner of last the December 27 polls.
The Head of State was then hurriedly sworn in for a second term in office.
ODM, which had a clear win in six of the eight provinces, however, disputed votes presented at KICC from certain constituencies saying they were altered in favour of President Kibaki.
The dispute ended following the intervention of the international community through former UN chief Kofi Annan who brought President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to a negotiating table and made the two leaders agree to share power.
Mr Annan's led National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee also led to the formation of the seven-member Kriegler Commission to investigate last year's polls.
Mr Justice Kriegler said his team was on track and that it was certain it will present its report within six months from March 15 as required.
Mr Justice Kriegler admitted that his team which has since met ECK officials, media, civil society and religious leaders to shed some light what happened during the polls, was facing some challenges.
Mr Odinga said he was happy with Kriegler's team progress and an assurance that they will complete and release their report in time.
"We encourage them to continue with the work that they are doing," Mr Odinga said.
He further expressed hope that the commission's report will be satisfactory to all Kenyans.
The Prime Minister said Kenyans wanted to know the truth about last year's polls so that they could focus on nation building.
Kenyans, he added, did not want a repeat of the violence that rocked the country following the disputed poll results.
Mr Justice Kriegler said his team will also meet PNU leaders.
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