Central Kenya MPs now back Majimbo
By MUGUMO MUNENE
and WATORO KAMAU
Central Kenya MPs have agreed for the first time to back Majimbo a federal system of government.
The policy switch came during a marathon meeting of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group which ended at 2am yesterday.
Previously the MPs, mainly from the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema), had insisted Majimbo would be too expensive for Kenya.
Discussions at the meeting at La belle Inn in Naivasha centred on the MPs' political survival and their representation in the next government after President Moi retires.
Key to that aim, one MP said, was the need to mobilise Central Kenya communities to join a single political party to ensure they have strong bargaining power in the formation of the next government.
The group believes that if they support a single political party along with "some selected friendly communities" they could comfortably win at least 70 to 80 Parliamentary seats.
The MPs also discussed strategies for the economic revival of Central Kenya and ways of ensuring that the region was fully represented in a future goverrnment.
Within that context four of the MPs said they would not be opposed to supporting a Kanu candidate at the next General Election, although a clear majority of the 35 MPs present later claimed the four had been giving only their personal views and did not speak either for the Parliamentary group or for Gema.
The marathon meeting started on Thursday at 8 pm.
The MPs were mainly from the Democratic Party, Ford-People, the Social Democratic Party and Safina, while Gatundu South MP Moses Muihia and Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo attended the group's meeting for the first time.
DP chairman Mwai Kibaki skipped the talks, which were chaired by group chairman and DP patron Njenga Karume (Kiambaa). Kieni's Chris Murungaru was secretary.
Speaking to the Nation later, Mr Karume said that the group was planning another meeting in Nairobi next week.
"We discussed the development of Central Kenya but we shall tell you more then," Mr Karume said.
Kanu's President Moi and NDP leader Raila Odinga have now been mandated by their parties to work out a merger.
On the other hand, Mr Kibaki, who is believed to support the Central Kenya group, has been in talks with Ford Kenya's Kijana Wamalwa and NPK leader Charity Ngilu in search of alignment.
Sources at the Naivasha meeting told the Nation that members had in a radical departure resolved to support majimbo; the federal system of government.
"We have now decided to go for majimbo but we still stand by our position that we should have a government of national unity," a source told the Nation yesterday.
However, they have set one condition for majimbo that the provincial boundaries are reworked and people allowed to register in the jimbo (federal state) of their choice.
They plan to present their detailed proposals on this to the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission when it begins collecting views.
The meeting discussed the coffee industry and resolved to demand the release of the remaining Stabex cash.
"We have to fight for the political and economic empowerment of our people and find ways of tackling the elections. That is why we met. We are particularly angered by the Government's refusal to release the Stabex funds in toto. We are tired of waiting," another MP said.
The MPs also complained that the Government was dragging its feet over implementation of the Donde Act to regulate interest rates and the Coffee Bill which is yet to be tabled .
MPs Matu Wamae, Chris Murungaru and Muhika Mutahi, said the meeting discussed which leaders could reach out to other Kenyan communities.
Dr Murungaru said: "Nevertheless this was a special meeting and that is why we decided to meet at night when there is not much distraction."
Dr Murungaru gave the Nation a list of MPs who attended the meeting. They included; Joseph Kuria Mukira (Subukia), Paul Kihara (Naivasha), Martha Karua (Gichugu), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), Kamande Mwangi (Maragwa), Maina Njakwe (Mathioya), Joshua Toro (Kandara), Chege Mbitiru (Laikipia West), Muriuki Karue (Ol Kalao), James Kibicho (Ndia), David Manyara (Nakuru Town), Mwangi Githiomi (Kipipiri), Philip Gitonga (Lari), Beth Mugo (Dagoretti), Norman Nyaga (Kamukunji), Njehu Gatabaki (Githunguri), Patrick Muiruri (Gatundu North), David Mwenje (Embakasi), Stephen Ndichu (Juja), David Murathe (Gatanga), Njeru Ndwiga (Manyatta), Thirikwa Kamau (Ndaragwa), Ngenye Kariuki (Kiharu), Adolf Muchiri (Kasarani), Alfred Nderitu (Mwea), Moses Muihia (Gatundu South), John Michuki (Kangema), Matere Keriri (Kerugoya Kutus), Kihara Mwangi (Kigumo), David Mwiraria (Imenti North) and Kiraitu Murungi (Imenti South).
Siasa za majimbo bwana! Tazama Nigeria has majimbo made things any better? Given the preveiling ethnic tensions there is a danger majimbo may create more disunity!
Kani Wananchi wanhitaji majimbo au maisha bora? Is majimbo= maisha bora in resource poor countries?
Why do you have to look at Nigeria while India and USA are all Majimbo countries which are bigger and betterb democrasy? Why do you have to have the to look at the Negative influences? Kibaki has balkanised Kenya tribally. Only majimbo can rescue that. Other Kenyans cant work freely in Kikuyu towns. Try setting up a shop in Murang'a, you will be killed and your shop burned at daytime and the police will not dare come to your rescue. But Kikuyus can freely set up shop and do business in every town in Kenya including my small market, Ahero. Thats selfishness and its only Majimbo which can reverse it.
Hope you dont mean with Majimbo the Kikuyu will have to go back to Kikuyuland- this is the danger of disunity all Kenyans will one day regret!
In Tz we have Chagga from kilimanjaro who are all over Tz but they live happily and married to other tribes!
Remember scarcity of land in the central areas and freedom of movement in a free Kenya!
Raila: I didnt sign any deal with Muslims
Story by SIMON SIELE and GEORGE OMONDI
Publication Date: 11/5/2007
ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Sunday denied having signed a memorandum of understanding with the Muslim community.
Mr Raila Odinga inspects a guard of honour by youths supporting the party in Nakuru yesterday. Photo/MARTIN TELEWA
He said he only met Muslim leaders who raised complaints about constant harassment whenever their faithful sought identity cards, passports and employment.
Some people have claimed that I signed an MoU with the Muslims but there is no such a deal since their leaders only came to me to register their complaints about constant harassment and discrimination against them, Mr Odinga said.
Addressing the faithful at Deliverance Church in Nakuru, Mr Odinga said Christians should not be worried that he had signed a secret deal with Muslims because I too am a Christian and a member of the Anglican Church.
I told the Muslim community not to worry because their rights will be recognised by the ODM government and there is no need for me to sign any MoU with the Christians because I am one of them.
Mr Odinga said his concerns were largely in regard to complaints by the Muslim community, noting that the ODM government would ensure all Kenyans enjoy constitutional rights irrespective of their creed or religion.
We want to assure every Kenyan that we shall respect all their rights and as a Christian, I am committed to follow its teachings which demand that we should love one another at all times, said the outgoing Langata MP.
Mr Odinga accused some religious leaders of taking sides in the ongoing campaigns arguing that they were influencing their worshippers to support certain political parties and called on Kenyans to be wary of such people.
He criticised the Government over deportation of eight Kenyans suspected to have been implicated in acts of terrorism, arguing that they should have been tried in Kenya.
Political base
Later, during his speech at Afraha stadium, he dismissed those spearheading campaigns that he would switch his political base from Langata to Bondo.
Although I was born in Bondo, I want to assure my political opponents that I will not shift from Langata because that is where I have always represented and my brother Oburu (Oginga) is best-placed to tackle Bondo.
The rally was nearly disrupted by heavy afternoon downpour which lasted for close to one hour.
Rains started immediately after Mrs Charity Ngilu finished addressing the crowd and cut her speech short before she could welcome Mr Joe Nyaga, another member of the partys the Pentagon.
But the crowd stayed put, dancing and chanting pro-ODM slogans. Mama Rainbow, hatutoki! (We are not leaving), they sang as heavy rains continued to pound the stadium.
Mrs Ngilu accused President Kibaki of insincerity saying he had promised to serve for only one term.
On arrival at the stadium, Mr Odinga was crowned a Kalenjin elder by three elderly men from the community.
The presidential candidate took issue with his opponents who he accused of misleading the public about majimbo.
At an earlier press conference at London estate in Nakuru, Mr Odinga said the ODM decision to introduce a majimbo system of governance was aimed to implement recommendations contained in the Bomas draft constitution.
Mr Odinga, who was accompanied by running mate Musalia Mudavadi and Pentagon member William Ruto, said devolution will pave the way for equitable distribution of resources.
Memory lapse
Since we came out of Bomas, there has been serious memory lapses especially among our opponents and that is why we are now going round the country to assure them about ODM commitment to implement the recommendations as contained in Bomas Draft constitution, he said.
He accused President Kibaki of implementing the rejected Kilifi draft constitution through the creation of districts. Those present during the press conference included party chairman Henry Kosgey, secretary-general Anyang Nyongo, and outgoing MPs Fred Gumo, Andrew Ligale and George Khaniri.
Siasa za majimbo bwana! Tazama Nigeria has majimbo made things any better? Given the preveiling ethnic tensions there is a danger majimbo may create more disunity!
Kani Wananchi wanhitaji majimbo au maisha bora? Is majimbo= maisha bora in resource poor countries?
Hope you dont mean with Majimbo the Kikuyu will have to go back to Kikuyuland- this is the danger of disunity all Kenyans will one day regret!
In Tz we have Chagga from kilimanjaro who are all over Tz but they live happily and married to other tribes!
Remember scarcity of land in the central areas and freedom of movement in a free Kenya!
Yaelekea Mzalendo halisi hajui kabisa kuhusu majimbo, yeye anafikiria majimbo maana yake mchaga akae kwao na msukuma akae kwao!Ndio fikra ambayo akina Kikwete waliwapandikiza watanzania wakati chadema ilipokuja na sera ya namna hiyo.Ama anahitaji kupata somo vizuri!ama kujisomea zaidi jinsi utawala wa majimbo unavyokuwa.Nadhani hii njia ya pili ingekuwa mwafaka zaidi,watu wakizoea kutafuniwa sana wanalemaa akili.
Hope you dont mean with Majimbo the Kikuyu will have to go back to Kikuyuland- this is the danger of disunity all Kenyans will one day regret!
In Tz we have Chagga from kilimanjaro who are all over Tz but they live happily and married to other tribes!
Remember scarcity of land in the central areas and freedom of movement in a free Kenya!