ODM rejects MPs’ move against Waki

• Party backtracks on drive to turn down report on post-poll violence

THE Orange Democratic Movement on Monday backtracked on its anti-Waki stance and agreed instead to look afresh at the judge’s report.

The party’s decision possibly to reverse the decision by its own MPs is likely to put party leaders at loggerheads once again.

ODM leader Raila Odinga who only recently faced a rebellion by MPs allied to Eldoret North’s William Ruto over his support for implementing the report into post- election violence attended a National Executive Council meeting in which his MPs’ recommendations to block the report were deferred.

Runs the party

The executive council is the group that runs the party.

ODM MPs recently rejected the report, saying they would resist attempts to charge any of the suspects named in a secret list handed by Mr Justice Waki to former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

Several Cabinet ministers also criticised Mr Odinga for insisting the report must be implemented in full.

But on Monday, ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o said the executive committee was more authoritative than the MPs’ Parliamentary Group, saying: “NEC speaks on behalf of the party. The PG concerns and ideas have been discussed by NEC and party position recommended. Members are, however, free to discuss; we have not gagged anybody.”

Prof Nyong’o named a new eight-member committee that will liaise with the party’s Strategic and Legal Affairs committee and arrive at new stand on the report within 10 days.

The committee members are Prof Tony Wambua, Ms Mumbi Ng’aru, Mr Sam Wa Njuguna, Mr Ali Dida, Mr Joseph Kiangoi, Mr Ochillo Ayacko, Mr Martin Shikuku and Mr Julius Kemboi.

Asked by journalists why it had taken so long for the party to give its position, Prof Nyong’o said ODM had taken the decision to form a committee to study the Waki report.

Only 35 days remain of the 60-day deadline for ODM and PNU to sign an agreement for setting up a tribunal to investigate those suspected of carrying out or aiding and abetting the violence.

After the 60 days have passed, if the process of implementing the report has not begun, the list of suspects will be sent to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Acted naïvely

Sources within the ODM executive meeting said there was a unanimous decision that the report be implemented and that the PG had acted naïvely by rejecting it.

It is understood that Mr Odinga told the meeting that he stood by his earlier decision that the report be implemented, because he believed Kenya should have a “homegrown solution” to deal with the issue and manage it here or else the ICC could take over the issue and complicate matters.

Mr Odinga also said the party needed to be united on the issue and the sooner the better, or else “we will be hanged separately”.

Others who spoke during the meeting included Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno, Defence assistant minister Joseph Nkaissery and his Trade counterpart Omingo Magara, Mr Shikuku, Mrs Ng’aru, Mr Ayacko and Mr Andrew Ligale.