256 KCPE candidates ‘missing’

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Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU AP officers gather firewood to be transported to their camp at Semikaro village, Tana Delta. More than 2,000 officers will remain in the area to keep peace.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By DANIEL NYASSY dnyassy@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, November 3  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Minister asks them to report to the nearest primary school as he tours areas hit by clashes

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A total of 256 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidates from Tana Delta District are still missing, two months after deadly clashes hit the area.

Internal Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito revealed this on Thursday and directed the students to register at the nearest primary school so they can be able to do the exams, which will start in late November. (READ: Victims of Tana clashes miss Form Four exam)

Mr Metito, who was on a peace mission in Hola Stadium, said the students disappeared when the clashes erupted in August, killing 112 people and displacing 12,000 others.

The minister’s appeal came as sharp differences arose between two lawyers at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the clashes after a lawyer said he was not prepared to cross examine an MP.

MP’s time ‘wasted’

Galole MP Dhado Godhana who was expected to testify on Thursday arrived at the Maridhiano CBO Hall in Minjila but could not give evidence as the assisting counsel to the commission, Mr Wamuti Ndegwa, was not ready.

This infuriated his lawyer Kamoti Mwamkale who bitterly argued with Mr Ndegwa saying his client’s time was being wasted.

Mr Mwakale arrived in the morning and assured the commission that his client was attending the meeting chaired by Mr Metito at Hola but would be available by 2pm to testify. However, Mr Ndegwa was not ready by the time the MP arrived to give his evidence sparking off bitter arguments between the two.

“You can’t waste my time and my client’s. This is a sign of the inefficiency in this commission,” said Mr Mwakale. In his defence, Mr Ndegwa said that the MP had presented to the commission several voluminous documents which needed time for the officials to go through before they could cross-examine the legislator.

This was the second time the counsel failed to cross examine a witness because he was not ready. Earlier in the morning, Mr Ndegwa had asked for more time before he could examine the Tana Delta District veterinary Officer Paul Mwamburi.

The chairperson of the commission Lady Justice Grace Nzioka warned assisting counsels to ensure that they were prepared before calling any witnesses to testify. She also allowed Mr Godhana to come back at a time of his choosing to testify.

At the Hola meeting, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said that 1,800 General Service Unit (GSU) officers and about 200 AP and Regular Police officers would remain.

“The police officers will be there until all the eight guns and 580 bullets taken away are recovered,” he said.

The commissioner said since last year, 55 grenade attacks had been carried out, resulting into the deaths of 67 people.