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Kenya: MPs Divided Over Ethnic Relations Bill
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The Nation (Nairobi)
2 July 2008
Posted to the web 2 July 2008
Owino Opondo
Nairobi
Parliament was divided Tuesday over a Bill proposing a commission to fight ethnic discrimination in the country.
Those for the National Ethnic and Race Relations Commission Bill, 2008, said Kenyans had failed to tame their tribal leanings and needed a law to correct the anomaly.
But MPs against the Bill argued that it sought to create an all-powerful commission that could be misused by the Government to torment those deemed to be opposed to its policies.
But their divergent positions at times pointed to personal, political and regional attacks.
At one point, Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua differed with ODM members Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu) and Millie Odhiambo (nominated) over the results of last year's General Election.
Cause tension
Mr Ruto had dismissed the Bill, saying it was going to create another "National Ethnic Management Authority" that could cause tension in the country.
Said he: "Let us not pretend, it's the stealing of the elections by the Electoral Commission of Kenya that caused violence."
Ms Karua demanded that the MP be asked to substantiate his claim, but the latter responded that Molo constituency, for example, had conflicting poll results.
Ms Odhiambo wanted to be told if the minister was in order to say the election results had no contestations yet commissions had been appointed to investigate them. The minister said it was on the basis of the announcement of the results that MPs were in the House. That did not convince Ms Odhiambo who argued that the grand coalition was established to heal the nation as a result of the disputed election results.
Earlier, Ms Karua had told Parliament that the Bill was long overdue, and would help check ethnic discrimination.
Initiating debate, the minister took MPs through the provisions of the proposed law, saying it was drafted in good faith, and that it emanated from the deliberations of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee.
Seconding the Bill, Education minister Sam Ongeri described it as "people-friendly" and would discourage ethnic demagogues.
Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo (ODM) opposed the Bill, saying Kenya had better deal with the causes of ethnic tensions such as inequitable distribution of jobs and resources.
On his part, Public Service assistant minister Aden Sugow supported the proposed law, but blamed successive independence governments of perpetuating ethnic discrimination.
Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu (Ford-K) said Kenyans had failed to control ethnicity and required a law, but proposed that the commission be independent of the minister's influence.
Local Government assistant minister Njeru Githae said the Bill was necessary to abolish hate-speech and tribal tags.
Debate continues.
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Reports by Owino Opondo and Odhiambo Orlale
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