JENNIFER MUIRURI | NATION Gwassi MP John Mbadi (left) and by Kisumu West MP Olago Alouch address a conference at Parliament buildings on January 25, 2011. They alleged that a team from Cote d’Ivoire was in the country to meet the President.
By NATION TEAM newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Tuesday, January 25 2011 at 21:00
In Summary
- Group accuses party of inviting the Ivorians to discredit Raila’s mediation efforts in the West African country
Envoys from Cote d’Ivoire were on Tuesday evening making frantic efforts to secure appointments with ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to explain the rejection of Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a mediator in their country’s crisis.
The delegation, led by an MP dispatched by besieged President Laurent Gbagbo, arrived on Tuesday morning and was quickly whisked to a five-star hotel by ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.
Even as other government officials confirmed the arrival of the delegation, acting Foreign Affairs minister George Saitoti denied receiving any formal communication from the Ivorians, adding that Kenya would support the African Union position on the crisis in the West African country.
“I am hearing that from you (journalists). We are yet to formally receive any information that a delegation will be coming in. We have to wait and see,” he said at about 11 am.
In the afternoon, five ODM MPs claimed that the Gbagbo delegation was in town.
MPs Olago Aluoch, John Mbadi, David Were, Benjamin Washiali and Simon Ogari accused PNU through chairman George Saitoti of inviting the team to discredit Mr Odinga’s efforts in Cote d’Ivoire.
“This is a propaganda campaign by the PNU wing of the coalition to discredit the brilliant efforts of the PM in Cote d’Ivoire. Why is PNU associating our country with outcasts?
“They invited (Sudan president Omar) al Bashir to the promulgation of the new constitution, they recognised Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and now they are in love with Gbagbo,” a statement read by Mr Aluoch said.
On Monday, the Nation reported that Mr Gbagbo wanted to send a delegation to Kenya to explain his rejection of Mr Odinga as AU envoy on the political crisis caused by his refusal to cede power after losing elections in November.
Government sources who requested anonymity said Mr Gbagbo’s representatives delivered the request through the Kenyan embassy in Addis Ababa, from where it was forwarded to the Foreign Affairs ministry in Nairobi last Friday.
Mr Gbagbo’s camp rejected the mediation of Mr Odinga, who was appointed by the AU last week. Speaking after the PM left Abidjan to rally African leaders to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, Mr Gbagbo’s Foreign Affairs minister, Alcide Djedje, accused Mr Odinga of siding with their rival, Mr Alassane Ouattara.
“Mr Odinga failed in his mission and we are no longer prepared to receive him in Cote d’Ivoire,” he said.
On Tuesday, the ODM legislators claimed that President Kibaki had no legal capacity to receive a report on the PM’s efforts as Mr Odinga was appointed by the AU.
The United Nations, the AU, the Economic Community of West African States), the European Union and the United States all recognise Mr Ouattara as the election winner.
“Kenya has its rightful place in the community of nations, PNU should not ruin that dignity. We hate the direction PNU is pushing this country to associate with failing states and internationally discredited leaders,” the statement released at Parliament Buildings, said.
The MPs said it is wrong for Kenya to welcome the Gbagbo officials as “they are not representatives of the people of Cote d’Ivoire.”
According to Mr Aluoch’s group, the Gbagbo emissaries were seeking an appointment with President Kibaki today although they had not secured it on Tuesday.
The visit, they said, is meant to heighten controversy in Kenya and not resolving the crisis in the West African nation.
The MPs accused PNU of having been unhappy with Mr Odinga’s appointment to help resolve the dispute.
The electoral crisis in Cote d’Ivoire was triggered by Mr Gbagbo’s refusal to hand over the presidency to Mr Ouattara who won the run-off presidential elections held in November and has rebuffed all diplomatic efforts to quit.
Reported by Bernard Namunane, Lucas Barasa and Aggrey Mutambo
Reported by Bernard Namunane, Lucas Barasa and Aggrey Mutambo
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