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Kenya is still Africa: Pay us a
goat, Meru elders tell Kibaki
The Nation
Story by PATRICK MUTHURI
10. Feb. 2008
Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara yesterday said he may drop an
intended suit against First Lady Mrs Lucy Kibaki for alleged
assault.
The MP said the Meru council of elders, Njuri Ncheke, who are
seeking an appointment with the President over the matter, had
asked him not to sue Mrs Kibaki until he knows the outcome of
their talks.
He-goat
The elders are reportedly seeking a fine of a he-goat from the
President for the alleged assault. Meru customs demand that if a
man is ill-treated by a woman, a he-goat be paid by her or her
relative to the aggrieved party.
“It is taboo for a woman, regardless of her status in society, to
abuse or beat a man. Our traditions do not allow this and the
elders feel perturbed and disappointed. State House should
unconditionally apologise to the MP and his constituents,” the
regional secretary general of Njuri Ncheke, Mzee Phares Ruteere
said.
He said the elders were angered by the alleged assault of the MP
who, they said, had campaigned for President Kibaki’s re-election.
“State House does not belong to an individual. This is the
country’s seat of power and should be respected. The First Lady
should differentiate between personal and State matters. We feel
very disappointed,” said Mr Ruteere on the phone.
Disappointed
He appealed to the MP to hold on until the ongoing mediation talks
led by Mr Kofi Annan to resolve the political impasse in the
country were concluded.
“After this, we will advise him on the next cause of action,” Mzee
Ruteere said. The MP, however, said he would go ahead and sue the
First Lady if nothing came out of the intended talks.
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