1 July 2009
Nairobi — A minister and two assistant ministers allied to ODM have discounted reports of a walk-out at the party's meeting chaired by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
They said the meeting between the PM, ministers and their assistants on Tuesday, was meant to "consult" on party unity, the special tribunal to try post-poll violence suspects and the new constitution.
Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang' and assistant ministers Oburu Oginga (Finance) and Ayiecho Olweny (Education) said there were no protests during the consultations, although there were varying opinions.
"Having different opinions is not something bad, we have to talk about these issues honestly," said Mr Kajwang'.
Other duties
Prof Olweny said those who left "had other duties to fulfil" and were not dissatisfied with the goings-on in the meeting.
Sports minister Helen Sambili and Home Affairs assistant minister Beatrice Kones left the meeting early but are said to have notified the PM before their departure.
Sharp divisions are said to have emerged over the formation of the tribunal "but it was nothing to warrant a walk-out" said Prof Olweny.
Even at Wednesday's briefing with NTV at Parliament, Mr Kajwang' differed with Dr Oburu on whether a special tribunal was important. While Dr Oginga supported Mr Odinga in pushing for the local tribunal, Mr Kajwang' rooted for the Hague.
Blackout
The meeting held on Tuesday at Mr Odinga's office, and which ended prematurely following an electricity blackout at the Treasury, is now scheduled for a later date and will accommodate all party MPs.
Party decisions are a prerogative of the parliamentary group and the national executive council. The meeting had already taken four-and-a-half hours before it was interrupted by the power failure.
The Prime Ministers office also said that ministers did not snub the meeting midway. "It is normal that some people will excuse themselves from a meeting of that length, more so when it involves Cabinet ministers who have a number of things to mind," said Mr Dennis Onyango, the PM's spokesman.
On Tuesday night, while the meeting was underway, Mr Onyango dismissed journalists, saying "it was closed to the press and the public".
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