Blame game rules the day as MPs debate Lamu killings

Politics and policy

Parliamentary National Security Committee chairman Asman Kamama and Kilome MP Regina Muya address the Press on June 17, 2014. Photo/EVANS HABIL 

By EDWIN MUTAI

In Summary

• Majority Leader Aden Duale and MPs Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) and Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo) accused Cord leader Raila Odinga of inciting ethnic hatred through public rallies that the coalition has been holding to push for national dialogue.
• Cord MPs led by Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, Millie Odhiambo, Opiyo Wandai, Enock Kibunguchy and Jakoyo Midiwo protested attempts to use Cord rallies and Mr Odinga as a scapegoat.

Emotions ran high in Parliament Tuesday as rival Jubilee and Cord members blamed each other over the killing of 63 Kenyans in Mpeketoni, Lamu County.

Related Stories

• Uhuru pledges help as firms come to terms with losses from Lamu attacks

Majority Leader Aden Duale and MPs Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) and Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo) accused Cord leader Raila Odinga of inciting ethnic hatred through public rallies that the coalition has been holding to push for national dialogue.

“If people think they will get power through shedding blood it will not happen,” Mr Kamau said.

He said the Mpeketoni attacks were well planned with raiders jamming communication networks. However, the government later clarified that the downtime, which followed the attack, was caused by a power outage.

Cord MPs led by Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, Millie Odhiambo, Opiyo Wandai, Enock Kibunguchy and Jakoyo Midiwo protested what they termed attempts to use their coalition's rallies and Mr Odinga as a scapegoat.

“Let’s not apportion blame. I don’t think Raila Amollo Odinga has capacity to do what we are blaming him for,” said Mr Kibunguchy, adding that the police should do their work.

He said Kenya should withdraw its forces from Somalia, close the borders and reform the security forces.

A loud protest by Ms Odhiambo attracted the wrath of Speaker Justin Muturi who threw her out for three sitting days.

The Budget and Appropriation committee chairman Mutava Musyimi proposed a bi-partisan committee to lead the national dialogue.

He said the committee had also agreed to establish an ad hoc committee comprising 25 members. He also said the committee was proposing a retreat comprising the Senate and MPs.

“We stand by the President and time has come for him to review security apparatus of this country. Perhaps time has come for us to consider working with traditional partners on security intelligence sharing,” Mr Musyimi said.

Earlier, the committee on Administration and National Security petitioned President Kenyatta to “crack the whip” on security chiefs who are “sleeping on the job.”

“We are appealing to the President to conduct radical surgery on the security officers who are not doing their job especially in the Police and National Intelligence Service (NIS),” Asman Kamama, the chairman of the security committee said.

“The country is under attack by Al Shaabab and their friends. We are also not ruling out the possibility of Mombasa Republic Council (MRC) involvement in the Mpeketoni killings. We don’t want to hear any more lives lost,” he said.

Cord MP MPs led by Ken Obura (Kisumu Central) and Opiyo Wandai (Unguja) announced they had filed a censure motion against security minister Joseph Ole Lenku.