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We will stop at nothing but the
presidency, says Pentagon
February 10, 2008
EASTANDARD
By Vitalis Kimutai and Peter Atsiaya
ODM has reaffirmed its commitment to the ongoing mediation but
declared it would go for nothing short of the presidency.
Party leader, Mr Raila Odinga, led 43 MPs in stating they would
not relent in efforts to capture the presidency, which was
allegedly stolen from them.
Speaking during the burial of the slain former Ainamoi MP, David
Kimutai Too, in Kericho District, on Saturday, the MPs reiterated
their commitment to the mediation talks.
They also said they would not betray the trust Kenyans have
entrusted on them.
"We have accepted to talk with PNU but we assure our supporters we
will not settle for a solution that betrays their cause," Raila
said.
He said ODM was aware that millions of Kenyans who voted for him
and the party MPs would not accept to be short-changed by PNU in
the talks.
Raila also urged Kenyans to give Mr Kofi Annan’s team a chance to
resolve the political crisis.
He added that Kibaki and other PNU leaders were resisting pressure
to relinquish power which, he said, they acquired illegally.
"If Kenyans managed to successfully fight the British Empire and
freed the country from the colonial yoke, Kibaki and his foot
soldiers will be defeated and when all is settled, this whole
thing will look like a storm in a tea cup," he said.
Raila also said normalcy would not return unless justice was done,
adding that mediation efforts should be based on peace and justice.
"Too’s killing was not as a result of a love triangle as was
bandied around by the police who were ill-bent on covering the
fact that it was a political assassination. Too’s spilled blood
will not be in vain as it will be the driving force in our quest
for justice," he said.
Raila criticised the police commissioner, Major Gen Hussein Ali
for going public on the love triangle angle before investigations
were launched into the MP’s killing.
Too was gunned down by a traffic police officer in Eldoret a week
ago.
In search of justice
Saturday’s funeral service was held at Chepkoiyo Primary School
grounds. Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Kenneth Marende, his
deputy Mr Farah Maalim, ODM pentagon members Mr Musalia Mudavadi,
Mr William Ruto and Mr Najib Balala were present. Ruto said
nothing would stop ODM and its followers from getting justice.
"Change comes through struggle and ODM supporters should not
relent in their fight for their deserved victory," said the
Eldoret North MP.
He said they adequately represented ODM supporters at the Kofi
Annan-led mediation talks. He assured that the party would have a
say in the final decision.
The Eldoret North MP said the political crisis was an opportunity
to create a new political dispensation in the country and correct
historical and present injustices.
Ruto said there was need to enact a new constitution that would
put in place structures that would ensure the country would not
witness similar chaos brought about by disputed presidential vote
tally. Changing of the Constitution, he said, was part of the
resolutions ODM had presented to the Annan-led team as a solution
to the crisis. Mudavadi said PNU initially believed that outrage
from the stolen elections would be short lived but were shocked
that Kenyans soldiered on despite Government’s use of excessive
force on innocent people. He said Kenya was on an international
spotlight and that a lasting solution needed to be found to unite
Kenyans and restore the country’s dignity.
Nyong’o said there was need for a transitional government to be
put in place.
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