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Kenya: Amnesty Rift Widens As Cabinet Meets Again
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The Nation (Nairobi)
22 May 2008
Posted to the web 21 May 2008
Bernard Namunane And Lucas Barasa
Nairobi
The explosive debate on whether thousands of youths arrested over the post-election violence should be pardoned goes before the Cabinet on Thursday.
Disagreements over the calls for amnesty have the potential to split the grand coalition with ministers from the two main camps disagreeing publicly on the matter.
Those allied to ODM have said the youths should be pardoned while those allied to PNU oppose such calls, saying those who killed others or burnt property should face the law.
Over 1,200 people were killed during the violence sparked by the disputed presidential election results announced on December 30, 2007.
Handling suspects
On Wednesday, Foreign minister, Moses Wetang'ula said the matter will be discussed during Thursday's Cabinet session.
Information minister, Samuel Poghisio, allayed fears that there was a rift in the Cabinet over the handling of the post-election violence suspects.
"What we have witnessed is individual opinion of some MPs. Amnesty was never an issue of agreement or disagreement during the Annan talks," he said.
According to him, individual ministers would support any decision that the Cabinet will make.
Though some of his constituents were among those arrested over the violence, Mr Poghisio said the matter will be sorted out but without applying blanket amnesty.
"Blanket amnesty will create more animosity," he said.
Among the crimes committed during the month-long violence were mass murder - including the burning to death of 35 people in an Eldoret church and 12 others in a house in Naivasha - arson, looting, rapes and destruction of property.
Leaders from the regions most affected by the violence Wednesday claimed that more than 4,000 young people had been arrested and should be released.
However, key Government officials have said those who committed crimes punishable by the law should answer for their misdeeds.
They promised to speed up the trial of the youths languishing in police cells.
On Wednesday, Agriculture minister, William Ruto; assistant minister, Charles Keter; Gem MP, Jakoyo Midiwo and Chepalungu MP, Isaac Ruto, declared that the fate of the youths should be determined by a commission of inquiry into post-election violence and not courts of law.
"The people we are talking about here are the boys who came out to demonstrate against the disputed elections," said Mr Ruto.
According to the minister, the youths were urged to take to the streets by ODM leaders to protest against the election results, in which the ECK declared President Kibaki winner, for a second and final term.
ODM disputed the results, saying its candidate, Mr Raila Odinga, had won the election.
"ODM called for protests and PNU ordered police to shoot at the youths to quell the protests.
"The police were as guilty as anyone. (ECK chairman Samuel) Kivuitu should also face criminal charges for triggering the violence and those who called for the protests," Mr Ruto said.
However, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister, Martha Karua, said the Annan-led talks were categorical that justice should prevail and people found to have participated in post-elections violence should face the law.
Ms Karua, a member of the mediation team like Mr Ruto, said crimes were committed during the fighting and the Government was expediting the trials to ensure that the innocent are released.
"This is a matter that decides whether our country is under the rule of law or the rule of the jungle. There is due process to be followed before the youths are released
"They are investigated, prosecuted and charged and those found innocent freed," she said.
She ruled out blanket amnesty as demanded by ODM leaders, including Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
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"We should start thinking about the people who were violated," she said.
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Ruto&Co. made their own bed when they called the youth to kill and pillage so that, they, Ruto&co. could be incoporated in Govt.Let them lie on the bed they so happily made without embarrasing Kenyans with outragious demands for blanket amnesty now that they find themselves in hot soup from the same youths who now feel betrayed because they were promised other peoples' lands,goats,cows,bulls,chicken,maize,beans, houses, businesses,cars,wives,children, churches,banks, etc. and free everything.Also, other peoples'lives.They were further told they would be having picknics on State House lawns.FM Radios and other media confirmed these merry gentlemen's lies. I would be jittery too, if... [Read Full Text]
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