Friday, April 6, 2012

PM faults leaders playing the tribal card ahead of poll


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By Nation Team and PMPS
Posted  Thursday, April 5  2012 at  22:00
IN SUMMARY
  • Raila says move has the potential of igniting violence similar to the one witnessed in 2008
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hit out at leaders in the country who are playing the ethnic card ahead of the next general election.
Mr Odinga said such politicians were treading on dangerous ground, adding that the move had the potential of igniting chaos similar to the one witnessed in the country after the 2007 election.
“This is a critical year in our country. We want elections conducted in a peaceful manner so that we can avoid a repeat of the post-election violence of 2008,” he said.
He made the remarks at Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu on Thursday when he launched the Kisumu Urban Project (KUP) funded by the French Agency for Development to the tune of Sh5 billion.
The PM said he will be seeking the presidency as a nationalist, not as a Luo. He further said his deputy, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, is similarly campaigning to be ODM’s presidential flag bearer as a Kenyan, not as a Luhya.
He once again said implementation of the Constitution could only be done by Kenyans who believe in it. Those who opposed it and the “watermelons” cannot effect a document they do not believe in, he added.
On KUP, Mr Odinga said it will run from 2012 up to 2016 and is expected to ensure prudent use and development of land in the city.
He said it will address critical issues like financial management, urban planning, solid waste management and slum upgrading.
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The PM explained that under the programme, Nyalenda, Kaloleni, Bandani and Obunga estates would benefit through improved sanitation, access roads and water services.
At the same time, Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) has criticised the move by tribal groupings to publicly support politicians seeking elective posts.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Muhuri executive director Hussein Khalid said this showed decay in the country’s political leadership.
“The Gikuyu Embu Meru Association (Gema) and the Kalenjin Maasai Turkana Samburu (Kamatusa) have come out in the open to support their own whom they claim are being subjected  to unnecessary trials and tribulations at the ICC (International Criminal Court),” said Mr Khalid.
He said the claims made by the groups were an indication of how far politicians can go to push for their personal agendas.
Elsewhere, the Kamatusa meeting held in Eldoret on Tuesday has elicited divided opinion in the vote-rich Rift Valley.
While some support it, the National Council of NGOs chairman Ken Wafula said such groupings have been responsible for fuelling tribal animosities and should be outlawed.
Reported by Sandra Chao and Wycliff Kipsang

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