Thursday, May 16, 2013

Row in House over Ruto order on Mandera clashes



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MPs in the House during a past session. Photo|FILE
MPs in the House during a past session. Photo|FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP
By JOHN NGIRACHU (jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com)
Posted  Thursday, May 16  2013 at  18:13
IN SUMMARY
  • Mr Duale sought to make the clarification in the National Assembly in response to a press conference by three Cord members on Wednesday evening where they questioned Mr Ruto’s actions.
  • He said Mr Ruto “noted in the meeting that KDF who were already in place in the border county were ensuring that no foreign militia cross over to Kenya from the neighbouring countries.”
  • Kenneth Okoth (Kibra, ODM) however claimed that Mr Duale was lying and said he had video evidence of the statement by the deputy President stating that the KDF would be deployed to the area.
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Majority Leader Aden Duale claims that the security meeting convened last week by deputy President William Ruto did not discuss the possibility of deploying the Kenya Defence Forces to Mandera.
Mr Duale sought to make the clarification in the National Assembly in response to a press conference by three Cord members on Wednesday evening where they questioned Mr Ruto’s actions.
“I therefore wish to clarify that it is wrong for anyone to allege that the deputy President ordered that the KDF be deployed to the area to quell the skirmishes,” said Mr Duale.
He said Mr Ruto “noted in the meeting that KDF who were already in place in the border county were ensuring that no foreign militia cross over to Kenya from the neighbouring countries.”
However, MPs put Mr Duale on the spot over insecurity in Mandera and other parts of the country.
They accused the government of handling the cases in a reactive manner and questioned whether there was cooperation between the intelligence service and the police.
Kenneth Okoth (Kibra, ODM) however claimed that Mr Duale was lying and said he had video evidence of the statement by the deputy President stating that the KDF would be deployed to the area. (READ: Govt deploys military to quell Mandera clashes)
“I have the video evidence and I can play it now. We have a video and a transcript of it. My point simply is that I respect the security issue but the sanctity of this House must be rejected. This is not video. This is not drama,” he said.
Mr Okoth had with Chris Bichage (Nyaribari Chache) and Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa, ODM) criticised the reported statement by Mr Ruto on the basis that the consent of the National Assembly must be sought before KDF is deployed.
Mr Duale maintained that the KDF had not been deployed.
MPs also used the opportunity to put the government to task over recent insecurity in Bungoma and Busia counties and spent close to two and a half hours discussing the matter.
A claim that politicians are involved in the rampant killings in Bungoma also found its way to the floor of the House.
“It could be possible that members either within this House or the Senate could be putting petrol on these fires,” said Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West, Ford-Kenya).
He cited an incident where, he said, an MP said that half of his constituency “should go to Western.” Mr Duale did not address the matter.
Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini, Ford-Kenya) was among MPs who pointed out that the apparent differences between the Inspector General and the chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Mr Duale said the government would introduce amendments to the National Police Service Act to make the Inspector General’s office independent “so that Kenyans can know where the buck stops.”

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