State House rebuffs Raila claim on poll chaos

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. State House has said it does not wish to be drawn into a blame game over the post election violence October 19, 2011. FILE 

By ANTHONY KARIUKI and PAMELA CHEPKEMEI
Posted  Wednesday, October 19  2011 at  18:53

State House has said it does not wish to be drawn into a blame game over the post election violence.

In a statement, President Kibaki rebuffed accusations made by Prime Minister Raila Odinga that he should take responsibility for the killings committed by police officers during the 2008 post-election violence.

Mr Odinga made the remarks during cross examination in a case where he appeared as a witness for former journalist Otieno Mak’ Onyango, who was detained by the Moi regime.

"President Mwai Kibaki will not be drawn into blame games at this time when Kenyans need to be focusing on the many challenges facing our beloved nation, especially on a matter that was settled by the National Accord and Reconciliation Act," said the statement from the Presidential Press Service Wednesday evening.

"President Kibaki was not responsible for any form of violence, at any time.  Kenyans by now know how the violence started and how it ended," it said.

Loss of lives

In court, Mr Odinga had said the President should account for police killings at the height of the chaos that left 1.133 people dead and 650,000 uprooted from their homes.

“My view is that the President should take responsibility for the loss of lives caused by police officers,” said Mr Odinga.

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In a rejoinder, Mr Odinga's office said the PM's statement was taken out of context.

Mr Odinga said he did not intend to assign blame for the violence and pointed out that it was the decision of President Kibaki and himself to set aside their ambitions that saved the country.

"While the PM would like to respect court processes and rules, he is concerned that his answers to questions in court are being taken out of the context in which they were given," said Mr Odinga's spokesperson Dennis Onyango.

"I wish to clarify that it was not the intention of the Prime Minister to assign blame for the election violence when he appeared in court this morning and it has never been.

Nation ahead of personal ambitions

"The PM remains alert to the fact that while responsibility for the violence remains the subject of an international and local investigation, it is his and President Kibaki’s willingness to put the nation ahead of personal ambitions that ended the chaos with the signing of the Peace Accord and the agreement to share power," the statement said.

"Prime Minister Odinga remains committed to ensuring a united nation, driven by hope, not fear and a leadership driven by honesty, not opportunism."

During the cross examination, the PM also said each top official of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) should take individual responsibility if there is proof of involvement in the violence.

Mr Odinga was being questioned by former President Moi’s lawyer  Kethi Kilonzo during the hearing of a case filed by Mr Mak’ Onyango who was detained for four years on allegations by the State that he was involved in the 1982 attempted coup.

Mr Odinga had been called to testify in support of Mr Mak’Onyango’s case, but the cross examination was dominated by discussions on the ODM’s role in post-election violence.

In his statement, President Kibaki said he was focused on strengthening the economy and ensuring Kenya's border was safe.

"President Kibaki is focused on what must be done to re-energise the economy and get more people into production. President Kibaki would like to see the Kenyan nation stay united so that together we can guarantee our external and internal security."

Healing the nation

The President added he was clear "on his mission of healing and reconciling the nation". 

"As a nation, we need to focus on the many things that unite us as Kenyans in order to overcome the few issues that divide us," the statement said.

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Mr Moi’s lawyer also questioned Mr Odinga on what he knew of the 1982 attempted coup.

The former Alego Usonga MP has sued retired President Moi and the Government seeking compensation for violation of his rights.

Mr Odinga is a witness in Mr Mak’Onyango’s case as the two were arrested and detained on allegations that they participated in planning the coup.

In court, Ms Kilonzo sought to know from the prime minister whether Mr Kibaki should be held responsible for the loss of lives and property during the election violence.

He insisted that action had been taken by the state against all members of ODM who committed atrocities but the police officers who shot civilians as a result of the shoot-to-kill order had not been brought to book.