Reports By Leo Odera Omolo.
INVESTIGATIONS into the validity of the alleged UK memo tabled in Kenyan Parliament three weeks ago stated on Monday this week
The probe is being conducted by members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations, is investigating the matter, adjourned two weeks ago.
Earlier on Monday morning, the committee adjourned he session with the former Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula to allow him to “bond with his family after the Bamako ordeal. The minister as stranded in the West African state of Mali following a military take over which occurred while he and other Minister from the African Union were attending a ministerial Council meeting on security in Africa, and thereafter could not find flight home because the coup leaders had closed the Bamako International Airport. The Minister was later flown to Abuja in Nigeria after being evacuated by a pane charted by the Kenya government from where he took a flight to Nairobi.
Internal Security Minister Prof.Geore Saitoti appeared before the committee in his capacity as the chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on the ICC, But the Minister asked for more time because it was important “ all the six members of the committee are present.”
The document tabled in the House by Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, alleges among other things that the UK was planning to put pressure on the ICC to indict President Kibaki. The memo further said in part that the UK planned to install Prime Ministr Raila Odinga as president.
These allegations prompted the Whitehall to dispatch the British Minister in charge of Commonwealth Affairs and Africa Henry Bellingham to Nairobi. The British Minister flew into the Kenyan capital, Nairobi two days ago and categorically denied his government involvement.
Bellingham on Monday this week met with the heads of security intelligence and electoral body to forge what he described as a “working meeting on bilateral relationship.”.
Bellingham also refuted the popular claims making the round in Nairobi that he had been snubbed by President Mwai Kibaki, saying his visit to Kenya was mooted at a London conference on Somalia between Kenya and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
The UK Minister sentiments were supported by the new Trade Minister Moses Wetangula who until yesterday was Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Wetangla said at a press conference hurriedly convened after around table meeting, to deny claims that Bellingham visit was related to a document touching on the ICC cases that was presented in Parliament.
“I am aware of speculations about my visit. I have made it clear my visit is to discuss the many shared interests such as Somalia. It was planned for several weeks and never in response to the alleged document,” said Bellingham.
The UK Minister was speaking on the very day investigations by a parliamentary committee into the dossier got of to a heated start after an MP who is allied to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga ODM party accused the panel of trying to intimidate her.
“ I feel I am being treated like a hostile witness, said Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh in the wake of a barrage of questions from members of the Defense and Foreign Relations Committee..
Members of the committee included Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa who within hours was appointed to the plum government slot of in the Ministry of Justice and Cohesion who had accused the nominated MP for trying to tarnish the reputation of the Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo who was the whistle blower who tabled the alleged UK dossier in the House.
Wetangula has made it clear that Mr Bellingham had not requested to meet Kibaki. Instead he had sought for a meeting with the head of the national Security Intelligence boss Michael Gichangi, the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission chair Isaack Hassan and several ministers to talk about security, the coming general elections and bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
Bellingham reiterated that he had made it clear to Wetangula that the said ICC document were not genuine. He described them as malicious and aimed at destabilizing bilateral relations between the two countries and damages the political atmosphere ahead of the impending general elections in Kenya.
He went on, “ I am concerned that among other preposterous allegations, President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga were dragged into this I an attempt to create division and instability just when Kenya needs a stable and peaceful environment to conduct elections and implement the new Constitution, “said Bellingham.
The visiting British Minister said that the UK government had made t clear that London had no interest in any particular outcome in the Kenyan elections and as such would not back any candidates or parties instead, it would remain non-partisan.
“We in the UK support transparent, credible, peaceful elections which produces results that the people of Kenya of whatever political persuasion, accept as the legitimate expression of the will of the people.” Bellingham added.
Among the top Kenyan government official the British Minister met on Monday was the Prime Miister Raila Odinga.
Other issues discussed touched on the ongoing war in Somalia, tourism, immigration, regional stability, trade and the elections.
Ends