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Post by phil on Feb 15, 2012 18:29:51 GMT 3
I watched a very interesting debate in parliament this afternoon during PMQ. Basically it was the PM versus the G-7 on a wide range of issues like constitutional implementation, ICC trials and the general election date. Here's part of the report but I think the Hansard will come out much better once it is published.
I NEVER SAID THE HAGUE, I SAID LOCAL TRIBUNAL, RAILA TELLS PARLIAMENT.
ODM Party Leader Mr. Raila Odinga has told off politicians who are going round the country telling Kenyans that he is the one who agitated for the prosecution of the Post Election Violence cases in The Hague saying the very politicians rejected the option of a local Tribunal in the House.
Addressing Parliament Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Odinga said he went round pleading with legislators to support the formation of a local tribunal, but the House voted against the Bill.
Mr. Odinga cited a case where Chepalungu Member of Parliament Mr. Isaac Ruto stated that the cases should be handled in The Hague saying that he started a chorus of “Let’s not be vague, let’s go to Hagueâ€.
Mr. Odinga whereas he did not want the Eldoret North MP Mr. William Ruto (who had asked him the question) and the other Kenyans to go through the process of the ICC, it is their closest friends in the House who voted for The Hague option.
“Mr. Speaker, these same politicians have been going round the country telling Kenyans that it’s me who pushed for The Hague option, it is wrong†said the Prime Minister.
He added “Let it be known to all Kenyans that it is not Raila Odinga who took the secret envelope to the ICCâ€. Mr. Odinga said falsehoods had been told about him by politicians who were seeking sympathy from Kenyans adding that he has always stood firm about his wish for the local tribunal.
Mr. Odinga castigated politicians moving around the country saying that “theirs is one person who will never be President of Kenya†saying that they had no moral authority to say so. “When some people unite and start saying that there’s one person who can’t be President of Kenya, then that person they’re referring to also has a right to respond and tell them they can’t be entrusted with the implementation of the Constitution†added the Premier.
He said his remarks that the people who spread propaganda about some sections of the Constitution during referendum campaigns particularly about Land, Homosexuality and Abortion cannot be trusted with the implementation of the document, should not be misinterpreted to mean that he disliked the Kenyans who said NO to the Constitution.
“I tour the country as the Prime Minister, but at the same time I am a Party Leader†he said adding that “I have always said that those politicians who spread propaganda about the Constitution during referendum campaigns should not be given the chance of implementing the document they rejectedâ€.
On the elections date, the Premier told the House that as much as he understands the wishes of Kenyans on when they want the General Election held, he will soon hold consultations with President Kibaki and thereafter inform Kenyans on the outcome of their consultations.
“I urge Kenyans and this House to be patient as we prepare to hold consultations on this very important subject’ said the PM.
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Post by Omwenga on Feb 15, 2012 18:48:10 GMT 3
I watched a very interesting debate in parliament this afternoon during PMQ. Basically it was the PM versus the G-7 on a wide range of issues like constitutional implementation, ICC trials and the general election date. These characters have proven over and over they don't care about facts or truth as neither favors their political prospects so off to lies, distortions and innuendo they have gone and remain. Raila cannot match them with equal measure or even at all in terms of lying and distorting but he surely must point out the lies each time he gets the opportunity to do so and ditto for all Kenyans who care about truth, honesty and lifting our country from the doldrums of economic stagnation and political backwardness and immaturity. |
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Post by nok on Feb 15, 2012 22:10:02 GMT 3
Watch RAO at Min 1:50 That was a Sucker Punch !!  |
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Post by mzee on Feb 15, 2012 23:54:37 GMT 3
The Rutos are crazy. Now they are denying having said "don't be vague, say hague". It was comical seeing Isaac asking the PM to produce hansard on the same.
But more interesting was William ruto being asked by the PM to pray for the IDPs. To which Ruto asked the PM to do that himself for he was not doing that anytime soon (my own interpretation). Talk a about ego and foolishness.
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Post by mwalimumkuu on Feb 15, 2012 23:55:06 GMT 3
Nok,
Hahahaaa, you have to love this Ruto man, he calls it as he sees it. How many times have we heard the PM only pay lip service to the victims of PEV? Never at any time have I seen him with a gorogoro of maize, a blanket or sukuma to the camps.
At the section that you point out, the PM speaks as if Ruto and co have the key to the prayer house or have the monopoly of prayers.
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Post by mzee on Feb 16, 2012 0:01:04 GMT 3
Mwalimkuu,
You don't murder innocent people then go around town praying for yourself.
Show some remorse. That's what the pm was asking the twin Rutos
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Post by mzee on Feb 16, 2012 0:02:17 GMT 3
Watch RAO at Min 1:50 That was a Sucker Punch !! One hell of a sucker punch, I agree |
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Post by adongo23456 on Feb 16, 2012 1:50:10 GMT 3
"Don't be vague, go to the Hague" has come back to haunt the merchants of impunity. This is a debate Raila can have with them for the next one year if they want. It is a debate that just makes Ruto and his toys look foolish and terrible. Bring IT ON: I am glad this conversation is now getting national attention. They kill people, refuse to be subjected to a local process and when cornered now claim killing people is a sign of good leadership and want to wear it as a badge of honour. Nonsense. Here we go: www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000052212&cid=4¤tPage=1 |
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Post by einstein on Feb 16, 2012 1:55:52 GMT 3
Folks,
If my memory serves me right, ODM as a party held or tried to hold a prayer rally for the PEV victims. I think it was held or was to be held at the Kamkunji grounds.
I cannot lay my hands on the media reports about the rally at the moment due to time constraints. May be a Jukwaaist can do a search on the net about that rally.
All I remember about it is that the prayer rally for the PEV victims was not very much well received by some people.
But again, maybe I'm experiencing a rare memory lapse.
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Post by adongo23456 on Feb 16, 2012 2:15:15 GMT 3
Folks,If my memory serves me right, ODM as a party held or tried to hold a prayer rally for the PEV victims. I think it was held or was to be held at the Kamkunji grounds. I cannot lay my hands on the media reports about the rally at the moment due to time constraints. May be a Jukwaaist can do a search on the net about that rally. All I remember about it is that the prayer rally for the PEV victims was not very much well received by some people. But again, maybe I'm experiencing a rare memory lapse. In my view, juxtaposing these "devil worship" charade of kina Ruto with any actual prayers for the victims of PEV makes little sense. The biggest prayer of the PEV victims has been for justice. They have been praying that those responsible for their plight including the murder of 1,300 Kenyans and the rape of over 1,000 women and kids as well as the displacement of 650,000 Kenyans be brought to book. The ICC judges answered those prayers on January 23, 2012. It is ironical that it is the suspected perpetrators of the crimes now accused before the ICC who are busy holding prayers for themselves as if they are the victims. It is not surprising that the indicted suspects find it very difficult to even offer a one minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the PEV before they start their political frolicks dubbed "prayers". They know there are limits even to hypocricy. So they want Raila to pray for the victims as they pray for themselves. Nonsense. That is not what is at stake. The issue is the lies of the suspects claiming they are being sent to the Hague by Raila when it is them who instructed their supporters to defeat a bill for a local tribunal. William Ruto thought he was being smart trying to approach the issue from Raila being biased against the NO campaigners but the PM was way ahead of him and brought in the charade of the "prayer" meetings. That caught the Ruto mob off guard and they walked right into a mess with Isaac Ruto trying to deny his own statements and failing in his walk back attempt. Before they knew it the whole ICC debacle of Ruto and co was turned into a national debate. It was about time. And the mob got a whipping they will not forget easily. They are going to keep away from Question time on Wednesdays with the PM. |
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Post by stibin on Feb 16, 2012 8:19:30 GMT 3
Raila is wrong to say those who campaigned against the constitution can’t be trusted to implement it taking into account that it was their democratic right to do so. There is no way we could have 100% endorsing the document.
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Post by chokoraa on Feb 16, 2012 9:08:52 GMT 3
Raila is wrong to say those who campaigned against the constitution can’t be trusted to implement it taking into account that it was their democratic right to do so. There is no way we could have 100% endorsing the document. sitibin, For one Ruto is not a democrat, he is a republican. The same people who tried puncturing the constitutional ship when we were in the high seas are the ones you tell us to give the coxswain mantle today after the ship has docked and we are beginning a new cruise. No way Steve, we can not trust them to steer our ship. |
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Post by phil on Feb 16, 2012 9:56:45 GMT 3
Nok, Hahahaaa, you have to love this Ruto man, he calls it as he sees it. How many times have we heard the PM only pay lip service to the victims of PEV? Never at any time have I seen him with a gorogoro of maize, a blanket or sukuma to the camps. At the section that you point out, the PM speaks as if Ruto and co have the key to the prayer house or have the monopoly of prayers. It is now becoming nauseting everytime you post in defence of William Ruto. What happened in parliament yesterday was a few folk attempting to hijack PMQ to pin the PM down with irrelevancies and politics. I am very glad the PM called them out for their hypocricy and their deceit. Why not sample this: And this: William Ruto did not just oppose all the bills for the local tribunal, he kept on changing positions in an ill-fated attempt at buying time hoping that the ICC process would last for 90 years. In the civilised world mwalimumkuu, this is what is called impunity, double standards and deceitful leadership. As we listen to Ruto defend the prayer hate meetings in parliament and sarcastically question why the Prime Minister has not taken it upon himself to offer prayers to 'other' people, does it even occur to him that it is the victims we are talking about here and NOT Raila Odinga? Mwalimumkuu, instead of the daily embarassment you are at Jukwaa, why dont you please appraise yourself with what the government is doing to re-settle IDPs? The OPM is not just in the thick of things in so far as resettlement of IDPs is concerned, Raila has been to the ground on several occassions to bring warring communities to the negotiation table in seeking sustainable solutions to these problems. Hate meetings do not bring peace, they only rise tension and Uhuruto should not imagine that they have a monopoly of violence. |
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Post by b6k on Feb 16, 2012 10:27:24 GMT 3
Watch RAO at Min 1:50 That was a Sucker Punch !! One hell of a sucker punch, I agree Ordinarily a sucker punch is thrown by sneaky individuals who, knowing they cannot win in a straight fight, ambush their quarry when they least expect it. I doubt that's what you meant to convey. |
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Post by tnk on Feb 16, 2012 10:28:08 GMT 3
Nok, Hahahaaa, you have to love this Ruto man, he calls it as he sees it. How many times have we heard the PM only pay lip service to the victims of PEV? Never at any time have I seen him with a gorogoro of maize, a blanket or sukuma to the camps. At the section that you point out, the PM speaks as if Ruto and co have the key to the prayer house or have the monopoly of prayers. It is now becoming nauseting everytime you post in defence of William Ruto. What happened in parliament yesterday was a few folk attempting to hijack PMQ to pin the PM down with irrelevancies and politics. I am very glad the PM called them out for their hypocricy and their deceit. Why not sample this: And this: William Ruto did not just oppose all the bills for the local tribunal, he kept on changing positions in an ill-fated attempt at buying time hoping that the ICC process would last for 90 years. In the civilised world mwalimumkuu, this is what is called impunity, double standards and deceitful leadership. As we listen to Ruto defend the prayer hate meetings in parliament and sarcastically question why the Prime Minister has not taken it upon himself to offer prayers to 'other' people, does it even occur to him that it is the victims we are talking about here and NOT Raila Odinga? Mwalimumkuu, instead of the daily embarassment you are at Jukwaa, why dont you please appraise yourself with what the government is doing to re-settle IDPs? The OPM is not just in the thick of things in so far as resettlement of IDPs is concerned, Raila has been to the ground on several occassions to bring warring communities to the negotiation table in seeking sustainable solutions to these problems. Hate meetings do not bring peace, they only rise tension and Uhuruto should not imagine that they have a monopoly of violence. phil thanks for those clips nuff said these guys are insane |
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Post by b6k on Feb 16, 2012 10:32:49 GMT 3
Nok, Hahahaaa, you have to love this Ruto man, he calls it as he sees it. How many times have we heard the PM only pay lip service to the victims of PEV? Never at any time have I seen him with a gorogoro of maize, a blanket or sukuma to the camps. At the section that you point out, the PM speaks as if Ruto and co have the key to the prayer house or have the monopoly of prayers. It is now becoming nauseting everytime you post in defence of William Ruto. What happened in parliament yesterday was a few folk attempting to hijack PMQ to pin the PM down with irrelevancies and politics. I am very glad the PM called them out for their hypocricy and their deceit. Why not sample this: And this: William Ruto did not just oppose all the bills for the local tribunal, he kept on changing positions in an ill-fated attempt at buying time hoping that the ICC process would last for 90 years. In the civilised world mwalimumkuu, this is what is called impunity, double standards and deceitful leadership. As we listen to Ruto defend the prayer hate meetings in parliament and sarcastically question why the Prime Minister has not taken it upon himself to offer prayers to 'other' people, does it even occur to him that it is the victims we are talking about here and NOT Raila Odinga? Mwalimumkuu, instead of the daily embarassment you are at Jukwaa, why dont you please appraise yourself with what the government is doing to re-settle IDPs? The OPM is not just in the thick of things in so far as resettlement of IDPs is concerned, Raila has been to the ground on several occassions to bring warring communities to the negotiation table in seeking sustainable solutions to these problems. Hate meetings do not bring peace, they only rise tension and Uhuruto should not imagine that they have a monopoly of violence. The PM is right on this score. I'm glad they opted for the ICC because a local tribunal would have forgiven all sins. Let them face the full force of international law. |
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Post by amunra on Feb 16, 2012 11:12:54 GMT 3
One hell of a sucker punch, I agree Ordinarily a sucker punch is thrown by sneaky individuals who, knowing they cannot win in a straight fight, ambush their quarry when they least expect it. I doubt that's what you meant to convey. ;D ;D I would equate it to the ORTIZ/MAYWEATHER Kinda punch up with ruto being ORTIZ. While Ortiz(Ruto) thought he had got mayweather(RAO) through a headbutt aka non issues during PMQs. Mayweather(RAO) returned a left right K.O. aka prayer rallies for killers not victims and lets not be vague,lets go hague. |
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Post by kamalet on Feb 16, 2012 11:50:18 GMT 3
Watching the exchanges, my view is that the PM allowed himself to be dragged into cess pit and made the mistake of losing his cool. Now that is bad for anyone pretending/aspiring to be a leader.
He joined in the juvenile arguments of the Rutos and at one time I could not tell the difference. Luckily the speaker saw the wisdom of helping the PM by urging him to stick to the questions asked.
Raila needs to know when he is seen as PM and when he is supposed to be Raila the politician. He would have performed very well responding to the Rutos at Joseph Kangethe but he should know his position in the House where he is seen as the PM of Kenya.
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Post by mzee on Feb 16, 2012 12:09:40 GMT 3
Raila did the right thing by telling the gangsters off.
One cannot take nonsense lying down forever in the name of being a PM. Gloves need to come off once in a while. This was the right forum given that many Kenyans were watching. Now the IDPs know that Rutos simply refers to them as " those others", who don't deserve prayer. The PM scored political points here if you ask me.
Sometimes, you need to wrestle the likes of Ruto in their own filth only if to teach them a lesson.
Obviously the Hague bound, fugitives to be, have not shame but that's up to them.
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Post by kamalet on Feb 16, 2012 12:30:18 GMT 3
Raila did the right thing by telling the gangsters off. One cannot take nonsense lying down forever in the name of being a PM. Gloves need to come off once in a while. This was the right forum given that many Kenyans were watching. Now the IDPs know that Rutos simply refers to them as " those others", who don't deserve prayer. The PM scored political points here if you ask me. Sometimes, you need to wrestle the likes of Ruto in their own filth only if to teach them a lesson. Obviously the Hague bound, fugitives to be, have not shame but that's up to them. we certainly have very different views about political maturity...which is sad! |
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Post by mwalimumkuu on Feb 16, 2012 16:33:31 GMT 3
Phil, Mzee and others,
It is rather obviously Raila as the PM was and still is the biggest beneficiary of the post election violence, he has done nothing for those who died in the name of 'no Raila no peace'. He is enjoying the trappings of power courtesy of their blood, bodies and property.
Yet he stands on the floor of the house without blinking and rubs salt into the injury of the victims. What can be worse than hypocrisy in the human race? It is worse than nihilism my friends.
If there is anything that those prayer meetings have done, is to explain to Kenyans exactly this point and what exactly happened and how we got where we are. That is why the PM is feeling the heat, because Kenyans are getting to know the truth and what he stands for.
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Post by adongo23456 on Feb 16, 2012 16:37:02 GMT 3
Watching the exchanges, my view is that the PM allowed himself to be dragged into cess pit and made the mistake of losing his cool. Now that is bad for anyone pretending/aspiring to be a leader. He joined in the juvenile arguments of the Rutos and at one time I could not tell the difference. Luckily the speaker saw the wisdom of helping the PM by urging him to stick to the questions asked. Raila needs to know when he is seen as PM and when he is supposed to be Raila the politician. He would have performed very well responding to the Rutos at Joseph Kangethe but he should know his position in the House where he is seen as the PM of Kenya. This is a debate in which the "juveniles" have been getting a free ride lying through their teeth 24/7. I remember you are one of those who cheered them when prior to the Summons appearence at The Hague they did the same thing with Uhuru unleashing the worst form tribalist venom everywhere. You told us here in Jukwaa that as long as the "juveniles" were using the "prayer" meetings to unleash attacks (lies or not) on Raila it was great. Well we know how that round of prayers went. They never intimidated Ocampo and after they sobered up they realized the so called prayers could be very dangerous to them in terms of creating conditions for charges of incitement. Uhuru and Ruto were actually warned that any incitement could lead to arrest warrants. Now since the confirmation of charges, Uhuru and Ruto have gone on a war path. As it is there is already enough incitement based on lies and propaganda that suggests the ICC is a political outfit working for specific people and communities in Kenya to victimise specific individuals and communities and to interfere in Kenya politics. Those are outright lies meant to incite the public. This is not rocket science and the ICC judges are not fools. We know that those same lies have been and are still being peddled right here in Jukwaa endlessly by people who know they are lying but do not care. The difference is that the people peddling those lies here in Jukwaa are NOT facing indictment at The Hague so they may be entitled to their lies. But when Uhuru and Ruto engage in outright lies and incitement of the public to blatantly politicize their predicament at The Hague they must face two consequences. One is that people have a right to expose those lies for what they are and that is what Raila did brilliantly yesterday right in the floor of the House. Raila reminded Ruto and co of their own narrow thinking and obsession with self interest when they killed the STK process. The facts are well documented and this is a debate whose time has come. Uhuru and Ruto have been getting a free ride with these lies and it is a debate they cannot win if facts are put on the table. So the PM did the right thing reminding Ruto that he is the architect of his own misery and has to bear his cross without lying to Kenyans. I see nothing wrong with that. The second problem these people will face is when they appear for the first time at The Hague at the beginning of the trial. The issue of public incitement will be raised and if Uhuru and Ruto keep the pace of lies and public incitement with fitina and porojo they will have to answer for those. It is not our business to have Uhuru and Ruto locked up as the trial goes on but it not our business to babysit them neither. We didin't tell them to go around killing people. If they think it is OK to incite Kenyans with hatred and lies then that is an issue they have to deal with. Already we see an incredible amount of intolerance from Uhuru and Ruto with their mob of M.Ps. As we speak Mutula Kilonzo is supposed to be censored by them and if they have their way fired. Muthama is under fire for saying some words in the kamba language which annoyed the small gods. They have summoned every mkamba they could lay their hands on to come translate what Muthama said. They want him kicked out of the Chief whip's job. At this rate are Kenyans to believe that Uhuru and Ruto given a chance would rather pass laws barring every walking and talking Kenyan from saying anything they consider not favourable to them? Even Moi, their godfather, couldn't do that. What kind of a country do these guys have in mind? Do they actually think lying 24/7 is the only way to get votes in Kenya? Is that the only thing Kenyans need? I doubt it very much and that is why I think it is tiem to address these lies without fear or favour. |
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Post by kipfirimbi on Feb 16, 2012 16:58:36 GMT 3
time someone told the pm to his face....great to see WSR stand up to his nemesis face on ...face up....kumeumana..
let the pm go pray for the victims if his hearts bleeds so..whilst his wife talks none of it and instead weeps for the ocampo four lest we forget that has been documented in jukwaa archives puuleez!!!!!!!!! what a load of...
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Post by gemagema on Feb 16, 2012 17:10:53 GMT 3
Sincerely, we all have a right to defend our leaders, but it is terribly disturbing, when supposedly intelligent adults just blah blah in the name of defending their so called leaders (Ruto in this case).
Surely, in that altercation (actually show down) between Ruto and Raila, only one person stood out as credible, believable, worthy and deserving of the title leader. that is Raila. Ruto, nothing but lies. Ruto, was just lying and lying and lying. A very desperate man. Isaac Ruto, even worse. Its like a kid denying having eaten the sugar, yet the sugar is smeared all over his mouth and face.
And whether PM or not, a politician is a politician. African politics, more so Kenyan politicians are not judged by how and what you say in Public - leave that to America and Europe. Here in kenya, we like and cheer our leaders more when they play good game...show down. Cant wait for campaigns..akina Ruto will be floored. Anyways, Raila is allowed to politick wherever and whenever just like the Ocampo duo do. Thus, Raila did choose the right forum to expose Ruto's lies. We all heard it. Even the NTV clip was very clear..it replayed Ruto in 2009...exactly saying what he is now denying to have said.
And in a forum like that of parliament, its a good chance to state your stand and have fellow MPs support or diss you. Moreover, because all Kenyan are watching, the electorate get to distinguish between liars (fake leaders) and sincere guys (true leaders) You know, when Ruto was lying, I saw Eugene Wamalwa, just stump lightly ....while he is Ruto's supporter, he was keen not to let his electorate see that he is condoning such lies
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 16, 2012 17:39:15 GMT 3
Here is the correct report of what went on in Parliament Face-off: Raila, Ruto feud goes to House Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Eldoret North MP William Ruto on Wednesday exchanged angry words in Parliament over the implementation of the Constitution and the trial of the Ocampo Four at The Hague. Facing-off from opposite sides of the Chamber, the former political allies traded words on campaign propaganda and the reasons for the International Criminal Court taking two cases related to 2008 post election violence. (Read: Raila denies role in Uhuru, Ruto ICC cases) Speaker Kenneth Marende was forced to intervene time after time as the MPs allied to the two constantly shot to their feet in defence of their leaders. The afternoon session had just gathered pace after Question Time, with Mr Odinga taking to the Floor to issue his weekly statement on government policies. On Wednesday, he spoke of the need for MPs to pass Bills on devolution and land, which have to be passed in 10 days, rounding up his statement with an announcement that Parliament, not just him and President Kibaki, would have the final say on the General Election date. Trouble started when Mr Ruto asked Mr Odinga to clarify utterances that those who opposed the passing of the Constitution should not seek leadership positions come the elections. “Can the Prime Minister clarify whether this is the policy of the government that those who exercised their democratic rights to vote No during the referendum should not be allowed to participate in the elections or is it just his campaign propaganda?” demanded Mr Ruto. Mr Odinga denied that he had called for the disenfranchisement of those who opposed the new constitution, but added that those who spearheaded the No campaign could not be trusted to implement it. Share This Story 113Share Related Stories PM berates rivals for unceasing criticism Kenyan presidential candidates raise billions ICC: Why Raila is walking tightrope Uhuru-Ruto allies up anti-Mutula rhetoric Raila: Election date will be known soon “All I have said is that if you stood up and engaged the public in propaganda that if the new constitution is passed, homosexuality will be allowed in this country; that if the new constitution is passed, women will be allowed to abort and that there will be wards for abortion in our hospitals ... I have said that if you did not believe in the constitution, can you be trusted to implement it? You can only implement what you believe in,” Mr Odinga responded. The reply prompted Mr Ruto to rise on a point of order, accusing the PM of evading his question. He insisted that Mr Odinga categorically tells the house whether it was government policy or his own propaganda. At this point, Mr Odinga stated that while it was not government policy to lock out those who voted No, he had a right to ask Kenyans not to elect those who opposed the new constitution in the way some politicians had been moving around the country telling Kenyans that they would unite to ensure he is not elected during the next elections. PNU Nominated MP George Nyamweya dismissed the PM’s arguments, arguing that all leaders in government and Parliament had taken an oath to defend and protect the Constitution. “Whether we voted Yes or No does not matter, it is now our Constitution,” he said. In the course of the exchanges, the issues of trials of the Ocampo Four by the ICC came up, with Mr Odinga defending himself against claims that he prodded The Hague to investigate and try those behind the 2008 post election violence. Mr Ruto, Deputy Prime Ministrer Uhuru Kenyatta, former public service head Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang are facing indictment by the ICC. Mr Odinga said that on the contrary, the government had gone out of its way to initiate mechanisms for a local trial, only for Mr Ruto’s allies to shoot down the initiative. “Mr Isaac Ruto is on record clearly saying that ‘do not be vague, let’s go to the Hague’, as a government, we had tried very hard to establish a local tribunal so that our people could be tried here in Kenya where we could even forgive them and forget,” said Mr Odinga. Not recorded The Chepalungu MP denied the allegations and challenged the PM to table the Hansard report to prove that he had made the utterances. Mr Odinga claimed that Mr Ruto had made the remarks when the proceedings of the House were not being recorded verbatim as Parliament had gone into a division to vote on the motion. The Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, however, disputed that Mr Odinga supported the formation of a local tribunal, and challenged him to state whether a letter allegedly authored by ODM Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to the ICC calling for the prosecution of the ICC suspects had blessings. Mr Marende had a rough time controlling emotions as the Eldoret North MP rose on another point of order to accuse the PM of moving around the country hurling insults at his political rivals. Share This Story 21Share Related Stories PM berates rivals for unceasing criticism Kenyan presidential candidates raise billions ICC: Why Raila is walking tightrope Uhuru-Ruto allies up anti-Mutula rhetoric Raila: Election date will be known soon But in his rejoinder, Mr Odinga accused Mr Ruto of moving round the country to conduct prayer rallies yet they had failed to organise any prayers for internally displaced persons. “Why haven’t they also held prayers for the IDPs? Why don’t they say that they will hold their prayers today, and tomorrow, they hold another prayer rally for the IDPs?” Mr Odinga charged. To which Mr Ruto hit back: “If he really cares for the IDPs, why has he not organised prayers for them? Nobody has stopped you from organising prayers for them.” As tempers boiled over, the speaker was forced to caution Mr Isaac Ruto and Heritage minister William Ole Ntimama for breaching the house rules. The Chepalungu MP had accused the PM of wasting public resources globe-trotting. He wondered what the PM was doing at a recent heads of state and government meeting. “He is neither a head of state or a head of government,” Mr Ruto told the house. Mr Ntimama on his part had rose on a point of information for Mr Odinga, only to accuse Mr Ruto and his allies of raising political tension by calling for the censure of Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo. www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1328420/-/item/2/-/xxd212z/-/index.html |
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