Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo yesterday clashed in Machakos town over the Ocampo Six. Mutula lashed out at some of the six suspects for going round holding political rallies in the guise of prayer meetings and told them their actions would not change anything. “Even if you hold a million rallies, you will still be prosecuted and that is the truth, take it from me,” Mutula said in his parting shot before sitting down.
On taking to the podium the VP said he will attend the homecoming rally at Uhuru Park where the Ocampo Six are expected to attend. He said the scheduled meeting was part of the healing process. “My brother Mutula still has issues with some of these matters but the bottom line is to preach peace and create an atmosphere for the healing process,” the VP said.
Kalonzo said acting government whip Johnson Muthama had escorted the suspects to the Hague while Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki was among those welcoming them back home.
Mutula said it was unfortunate that some of the Ocampo Six had turned prayer meetings into political rallies which not only polarised the country but was also at the expense of political stability and reconciliation. “We should be holding meetings to discuss ways of implementing the constitution which should be our priority and nothing else at the moment,” the Justice minister said.
He said bills had already been prepared pertaining to the rights of those affected by the post-election violence and expected them to get full support from Parliament.
Mutula said the legislators who have gone to the Hague should support the bills and give their input if meaningful reconciliation is to be achieved. Kalonzo and Mutula were speaking during the opening of the South Eastern Investment Conference and Expo held at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town.
The meeting was also attended by assistant Minister for Agriculture Gideon Ndambuki and MPs Victor Munyaka (Machakos town), Benson Mbai (Masinga), Peter Kiilu (Makueni) and the chairman of the Kamba Council of Elders Sam Muumbi.
The clash comes barely two months after the two went round Mutula’s Mbooni constituency saying they had buried their differences and would be reading from the same script henceforth.
Mutula has always insisted that he is for the truth and proper interpretation and implementation of the constitution devoid of political affiliation and interests. The Justice minster has also been critical of the shuttle diplomacy undertaken by the VP to the chagrin of ODM-K legislators backing Kalonzo.
In their Mbooni tour, Kalonzo said they differed with Mutula in opinion but they were bosom friends and frequently shared a cup of tea in the evenings.
Kalonzo and Mutula traveled in the same helicopter from Nairobi to the Machakos function and flew together to Mbooni to attend the funeral of the wife of former Mbooni MP Fred Kalulu.
Three months ago, Mutula claimed that the VP wanted him sacked from Cabinet for supporting the Hague process in a hard hitting statement which culminated in the two holding a reconciliatory rally.
In yesterday’s meeting, Kalonzo proposed actions to be adopted to open up the economic space in Ukambani to end the vicious cycle of poverty. The VP said water harnessing was a priority as irrigation farming was the only way out to ensure food security and improve livestock farming. He said Ukambani was ripe for huge solar farm projects that produce enough power to sell to the national grid.
The VP lamented that vast lime deposits in Mutomo that are currently contested due to wrangling at the county council have made exploitation of the resource impossible. “I wish to impress upon Athi River Mining and Larfarge to resolve this matter quickly, preferably out of court to avoid a situation where our people could find themselves with no choice but to seek alternative ways of reclaiming their birthright,” the VP said.
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