The violence that saw the murder of Luos in Naivasha and Kikuyu areas was planned as revenge attacks following the killings of Kikuyus in Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces, according to the US-based group Human Rights Watch.

The group is now calling upon the coalition government to support the Truth and Justice and Reconciliation Commission established under the mediation process to investigate the abuses by state forces and those responsible for the election problems and to bring them to justice.

Addressing the media in a Nairobi hotel during the release of a detailed book report of how the post election violence was pre-planned,  the group’s African Director Georgette Gagnon said inciting violence along ethnic lines almost destroyed Kenya and now the new government has chance to repair the fractures and restore the trust of Kenyans through the coalition goverment

According to the group’s African consultant Ben Rawlence (main speaker) and witnesses interviewed, the post election violence in Rift Valley Nairobi, Western, Nyanza and Naivasha were planned by local leaders, politicians and businessmen from all sides and who are best known to the victims.

Citing Naivasha, for example, one young Kikuyu man testitified to having been involved in the violence. He said, “This was not done by ordinary citizens , it was arranged by people with money;they bought the jobless like me. We need something to eat each day.”

In Kisumu a fifteen year old narrated how the police shot him in the back of the leg as he tried to run away from a police car. According to the boy, “They put off the headlights of the car and I realised that I was near because I heard a gun shot. I started running then I heard the second, when I tried to step forward my leg had no power, I fell down.”

Back in Naivasha, one man claimed to have seen three trucks with armed men arriving one Saturday night on January 26 in the Marera/Karacta area in company of a local businessman. On the same day in the afternoon, there was a meeting of local businessmen who had campaigned for a PNU candidate and former MP.

A youth present at the meeting said, “We were told that only Luo houses should be burnt and that the mission starts in the morning. Every person was given 100 or 200 shillings.”

However Human Rights Watch says that most of the leaders of the Mungiki Sect interviwed stated that they are not ready to work with the Kibaki goverment. The police also believe that there was little involvement of Mungiki in the violence but since any rebellious Kikuyu youth group uses the name “MUNGIKI” as it instiLls terror on people, some peopple like former Mungiki leader Ndura Waruinge are recruiting defectors to a fake Mungiki, following an order from Kikuyu businessmen and leaders from Rift Valley.

In Eldoret the violence was as result of costant inflamatory ethnic rhetoric aganist the Kikuyus and over land ownership in the run up to elections. The group however did not find any evidence directly linking William Ruto to the violence. However, Kikuyu victims blame Ruto because of his anti-Kikuyu rhetoric prior to the elections.

A youth who attended a meeting in Turbo chaired by a local ODM campaighner said “He (and the local elders) said that if there is any sign that Kibaki is winning, then the war should break ….they said the first step is to burn the Kikuyu homes in the village, then we will go to Turbo town, (and) after finishing Turbo then we organize to go to Eldoret… They were coaching the young people on how to go to war” and in some instances some ODM politicians would say “we have a snake, we have to get rid of it.”

Human Rights Watch says that it did over 200 interviews with victims, witnesses, perpetrators, police magistrates, journalists, lawyers, MPs, local councillors, diplomats, NGO’s and businessmen and that the interviews were conducted in person and via telephone in English and Swahili without any tranlators.

The group is now calling for independent investigations and nonpartisan prosecution of all those implicated in the violence.

At the same time, it blames the police for using execesive force on protestors and extra judicial killings especilly in Kisumu and Kibera.

A detailed report is posted the at http://hrw.org/reports/2008/kenya/0308

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:51:04
by Ceeloh

The Orange Democratic Movement is cautioning against the interpretation of the grand coalition agreement by anybody other than Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki.

Addressing the press at Orange House, the party Secretary General Professor Anyang Nyong’o, dismissed the remarks made by the head of public service Ambassador Francis Muthaura as a move that risks causing unnecessary political discomfort among partners since it did not include the real terms of the Agreement. Nyong’o added that the agreement was based on a 50-50 sharing of power in all areas between PNU and ODM. At the same time, he appealed to Kenyans to be patient since parliament is working on the modalities of ensuring that the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill Accord signed by the two principals is going to be passed into law.

Elsewhere, the US-based Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has released a report on the human right violations before and after the 2007 general elections.

In a faxed statement to newsrooms, the report states that there was excessive use of force by police, disrespect for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, gender violence, and rape. Also included in the list of violations, is the improper tallying of votes by the ECK at the KICC.

The statement, which is also posted at the organization’s website, notes that the government has taken limited steps to prosecute abusers.

END

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:59:36

by Ceeloh

In a move likely to stir immediate reaction within political circles, the head of public service Ambassador Francis Muthaura has refuted claims appearing in a crossection of the media that high profile public and cabinet jobs were up for grabs.

Also clarifying the role of the Prime Minister, he noted that the President still remains the head of the goverment followed by the Vice President as head of the goverment business in parliament. The Prime Minister, according to Muthaura, will supervise and coordinate the government functions under the authority of the President. Muthaura added that both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers will assume ministerial portfolios.

On public service appointments, Muthaura said all appointments in the public service are governed by Acts of parliament and not based on the power sharing deal.

Muthaura was adddresing the press at the goverment spokesman press center but in a quick rejoinder the Orange Democratic Movement dismissed Amb Francis Muthaura’s interpretation of the roles and appointment of the Prime Minister saying that it was misleading to Kenyans and a move intended to take Kenya backwards.

Addresing a press conference at Pentagon House, ODM Task Force leader DR Amukoa Anangwe said the statement has caused uncalled for alarm amongst ODM supporters.

Anangwe added that the mediation team had agreed that a coalition goverment be established between PNU and ODM and also provided provision for a 50 -50 sharing formula both in cabinet and in goverment which includes Civil Service and the parastatals.

Anangwe also noted that the structure of the new goverment is being worked on and can only be made public by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga after appropriate bills have been entrenched in the national accord through parliament.

END

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:45:16

by Ceeloh
Great signs of division have began to emerge in the Party of National Unity after members of parliament calling itself Members from the Central Rift are threatening that they will ensure that no single constitutional ammendment bill is going to pass in parliament next week .

Adressing a press conference at the parliament chambers, Mwangi Kiunjuri MP for Laikipia East says that the goverment has resolved to apply selective prosecution on those suspected to have been involed in the post elections violence. According to him, “Only the small fish are languishing in police cells and and real perpetrators have not been arrested.”

At the same time, they have threatened to call for peacefull mass action if the police commissioner fail to arrest all those who funded the Eldoret massacres and put the goverment on notice that they will name the suspects one by one since they know them and have all the evidence aganist them.

The group was speaking in defence of Naivasha MP John Mutotho who was summoned in court yesterday to answer charges in connection to the murder of nonKikuyus in Naivasha three weeks ago. Allegations which he vehemently denies.

END