Uhuru calls for mutual respect

By PETER OPIYO

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is calling on politicians to show respect to each other if they want to be respected.

The Minister for Finance said some politicians have mistaken his silence for cowardice, and have gone overboard by showing disrespect to him.

"Wengine wanaona kunyamaza kwa mtu ni kuogopa. Ukitaka heshima wewe pia peana heshima (Some think that silence means cowardice, but if you want to be respected you must respect others as well)," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta (left) talks to Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu in Ruthimitu, Nairobi yesterday during a fundraiser to aid in the construction of a proposed Cardinal Otunga Memorial Church. Uhuru called on leaders to respect each other. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

His remarks are viewed to target PM Raila Odinga who has engaged in a public spat with Eldoret North MP William Ruto, as the battle for political supremacy degenerates into a war of words among them.

This public spat intensified on Saturday at a rally in Nairobi’s Muthurwa market, where Uhuru and Ruto threw salvos at the PM. The same day, President Kibaki stepped in to calm the waters asking politicians to show sobriety and respect to each other.

Heeded message

And Sunday, Uhuru seemed to have heeded his message but with a rider.

"We want the President and the PM to be respected. But we have to know that respect is two-way street," he said at Dagoretti, Nairobi, during a funds drive for the construction of a Catholic church.

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo and Water Assistant Minister Ferdinand Waititu absolved Uhuru from any alleged involvement in the post-poll chaos, saying the minister advocated for peace during the upheavals.

"All Uhuru did was to bring peace to this country. We saw him go round Kikuyu land and other areas telling young people not to fight," said Ms Mugo.

She further said there is no need to take the Ocampo six to The Hague to face alleged charges on crime against humanity.

She cited the new Constitution, saying Kenya is now strengthening her judicial system to prosecute the post-poll chaos suspects.

Prosecute cases

"Having passed the new Constitution, we are building our institutions so there is absolutely no need to say we are not prepared to prosecute these cases," she said.

Mr Waititu claimed the real suspects behind the 2007/2008 chaos have been left off the hook, and vowed to block any attempts to fly Uhuru to The Netherlands for trials.

Uhuru, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, Postmaster General Hussein Ali and FM radio presenter Joshua Sang have been linked to the violence and the International Criminal Court is expected to issue summonses this month.

Also accompanying Uhuru were Naivasha MP John Mututho, Lewis Nguyai (Kikuyu) and Joshua Kuttuny (Cherangany).