ODM says will back Kenya Tribunal Bill

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the chairman of the Njuri Ncheke Paul M'ethingia join traditional troupes in a dance at Githongo, Imenti Central during a fundraiser on Saturday. In the background is area MP Gitobu Imanyara. Photo/ PMPS

What you need to know:

  • Mr Imanyara is planning to table a bill setting up a special tribunal to try post election violence suspects.

  • PM says MPs have seen the light.

The Orange Democratic Movement will support Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara’s bill seeking to set up a local tribunal to try Kenya's post election violence suspects.

The party’s secretary general and Medical Services minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o told a fundraiser in Mr Imanyara’s constituency on Saturday that the party will back his efforts to end impunity by voting in support of the bill in Parliament.

“We as ODM are prepared and ready to help Imanyara to end impunity and that is why we will support the bill in Parliament. We are not afraid of those who are opposed to the bill,’ Prof Nyong’o told the fundraiser presided over by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mr Imanyara is planning to table a bill setting up a special tribunal to try post election violence suspects.

The bill also has a provision that will see the masterminds of the violence that rocked the country early last year tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) based at the Hague, the Netherlands.

Mr Imanyara’s move follows a recent decision by the cabinet dropping the option of setting up a local tribunal to try the suspects and instead proposing the widening of the mandate of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) to address the violence.

Addressing the function, Mr Odinga did not directly commit himself to supporting the bill, instead praising Mr Imanyara and backbenchers for "seeing the light".

“I’m happy that my friend Gitobu and other backbenchers have finally seen the light by choosing to support the formation of a special tribunal, this is what the government tried to do at the beginning,” said the PM.

Mr Odinga, who helped raise Sh380,000 in aid of a children’s ward in the constituency with his personal contribution of Sh100,000 heaped praise on Mr Imanyara terming him an astute reformist.

The PM blamed the Kenyatta and Moi governments for entrenching tribalism in the country which he blamed for the post election violence that rocked the country last year.

The PM also blamed the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) for bungling the 2007 presidential election and in the process, triggering the violence.

“The ECK and those who sent them (to steal votes) should equally be blamed for the violence,” the PM told the gathering.

“We must address the reason as to why people fought in the first place. ECK must be held accountable,” he added.

Lands Minister James Orengo who was also present promised to back Mr Imanyara’s bill.

“I will support the bill from the beginning to the end,” said the minister.

He said that the bill was crucial for the country because it will ensure that even the “small fish” do not get away with their criminal acts.      

“It is important because the ICC will only try the big fish, those who bear greater responsibility for the violence and that is why this bill is necessary,” Mr Orengo explained.

Mr Imanyara on his part maintained that he was not out to nail any single politician or individual but rather to end impunity in the country.

“Nobody should fear that I’m out to fix anybody, I’m only trying to see to it that impunity ends,” said the legislator who was the host.

Mr Orengo, Prof Nyong’o and Mr Imanyara each gave Sh50,000.