Nairobi — Chief Mediator Kofi Annan yesterday expressed his displeasure at Parliament's failure to pass the Imanyara Bill which seeks to establish a special local tribunal to deal with post election violence suspects.

Annan is in the country to review the progress made in the reforms agenda that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga committed themselves to when they signed the National Accord establishing the coalition government.

Annan, who jetted into the country on Wednesday night, met Raila in his Treasury House office yesterday for one and a half hours. The PM was expected to brief Annan on the level of reforms that the country has implemented and what is left in implementation of Agenda Four.

He did not address the press and after a short photo session with Raila, he left for a meeting with House Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Sources who attended the meeting said Annan sought to know from Marende the reasons why MPs were uncomfortable with passing the Bill that would lead to the establishment of the special tribunal. Debate on the Bill, which has been sponsored by Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara has stalled several times after MPs walked out of the chamber whenever it was scheduled leading to a lack of quorum.

Marende declined to comment on the MPs snubbing of the Bill saying: "The position of the Speaker is impartial and in as much as I am concerned, debate on that Bill has been running and proceeding regularly," he said.

Annan declined to give more details of his discussions with the Speaker.

"Yes I have been following very keenly the debate on the proposed local tribunal law,but I will issue a statement on that later,"said Annan when pressed for comment.

The sources said that during his hour-long meeting with the Speaker, Annan sought to know whether there was any possibility that the Imanyara Bill could pass. Mrende is reported to have told Annan that it would be 'difficult' for the Bill to pass muster in the House.

The Imanyara Bill seeks to establish the local tribunal to deal with the scores of people who took part in the violence and who will not be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court. The ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has already set in motion the process through which at least three or four Cabinet ministers suspected to have financed and supported the violence will be prosecuted.

Scores of people who took part in the looting, raping and other destruction might get away unless a special local tribunal is established.

Yesterday, Justice minister KMutula Kilonzo dismissed the Imanyara Bill saying it was "weak." "It is weaker than the proposal that I put forward as minister. It does not meet international standards and I have no apologies for that. I produced something that meets international standards. I want a tribunal that gives Kenyans comfort," said Mutula.

Imanyara said the MPs action should convince Annan and the ICC that there was lack of political will to enact a local legislation to try the post election violence suspects.

"Initialy they may not have been sure about the commitment of the government in putting in place this Bill. Now they can see for themselves that there is a conspiracy to defeat justice,"he said.

He said that he will continue with debate on the bill next Thursday even though it was clear the Bill will be defeated,but urged the ICC to speed up the process of justice to ensure inciters and those who bear the greatest responsibility on the post election violence are made answerable.

During his visit with Marende, Annan also sought to know the measures already put in place to ensure the writing of the new constitution was a success.

Annan however commended parliament for being in the fore front in implementing its side of the agenda for reform initiatives.

"Parliament has succeeded in its role and we are happy that parliament has been working well,"Annan said.

The former UN secretary general, who is in the country to review the progress of reforms and prosecution of suspects of Kenya's worst political crisis of 2008, is also scheduled to meet President Kibaki today.

He will also be meeting members of the Serena team that negotiated the National Accord that was signed in February last year.

Anann who lead the panel of Eminent African Personalities in negotiating the national accord will hold meetings with various civil society groups during his seven day visit.

Anann's visit is considered by a many as calculated move by the international community to pressure Kenya to harness the speed of reforms and cooperate with the ICC.

Sources at the UN offices in Gigiri said that just like last time, Annan will hold a press conference where he will release the score card of the progress so far made in implementing reforms in the country.