PRESS STATEMENT BY ODM MPs- 12 July 2012

PRESS STATEMENT BY ODM MPs- 12 July 2012

A few days ago, the Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, was widely reported in the daily press to have made some astounding and even dangerous pronouncements while on his campaign trial. 
We wish to address two of these pronouncements and put the record right. He complained that the grand coalition government has not worked well, because of what he called “incessant wrangling” between the two parties in Government – ODM and PNU. Second, Mr. Kenyatta has repeatedly alleged that the Post Election Violence (PEV) in 2007/2008 was because ODM rejected the election results. He instead selectively chose to say nothing about the factors that led to the rejection of the election results, including a disgraceful and rushed swearing in of the President under the cover of darkness. 

We wish to make the following clarification and correction: 
1. It is indeed true that the grand coalition Government has suffered a lot of hiccups during its four years of existence so far. These hiccups have mainly arisen out of unwillingness on the part of PNU to respect the rule of law and national institutions. Kenyans will, for example recall how last year the nation was treated to unnecessary drama around the appointment of the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions. The PNU Wing on the advice of people like Mr Uhuru Kenyatta acted in utter contempt of the law, purporting to appoint individuals they thought would serve not the nation, but narrow partisan interests. They defied advice from the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as well as that of his Chief Legal Adviser – the then Attorney General, Amos Wako. Naturally, this stalled progress, leading to “unnecessary wrangling,” as the Gatundu South MP would put it. With hindsight, it is clear who was wrong. 
2. The same kind of stonewalling has informed virtually every other key appointment in Government, regardless that it relates to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, the Revenue Allocation Commission, the Constitution Implementation Commission, the Police Service Commission, appointment of County Commissioners, or whatever other body. 
Hon. Kenyatta is a key player in this self-serving caucus. As Minister for Finance, his chief task was to frustrate operations in ODM led ministries, resettlement of Mau Forest evictees and to scuttle reform process among others.
3. Regarding the PEV, we would have expected Mr. Kenyatta to know better. He is himself an accused person before the ICC in this most unfortunate tragedy in our national life. Kenyans should note that the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Raila Amolo Odinga, has no case at ICC and neither is he an accused person in any Court of law. Mr. Kenyatta should therefore argue his case at ICC to vindicate himself instead of blaming others for his predicaments.
4. We wish to caution Kenyans against leaders who preach hate, like Hon. Kenyatta is doing. These are dangerous people. They can set the country on fire again. Mr. Kenyatta has very worrying propensity for anger, recklessness and verbal eruption of the kind that incites partisan crowds to violence. It is doubtful that he can make a good leader in any country – except of course one who will be vindictive and divisive. 
5. As we prepare for the elections, we should ask ourselves whether the nation could hold together under embittered and vindictive individuals. Can Kenya survive under leaders whose distinction is daily pouring out of endless streams of angry words? Can we survive under people whose vocation and avocation is public incitement? 

On behalf of ODM MPs

Signed 
Hon Magerer Langat