MPs take fight for Coast votes to Parliament

The fight over votes in the Coast region surfaced in Parliament Tuesday as ODM and UDF allied MPs extended their weekend political battles on the fate of the proscribed group, the Mombasa Republican Council.

The parties are all out to win the support of the movement, and they both filed separate motions in the House for the formation of an ad hoc committee.

However, the parties have differed on the number of MPs to sit in the proposed committee and the membership of those committees.

UDF’s motion filed by Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), has already been received in the Clerk’s office. It seeks to have a 15-member committee; ODM seeks an 11-member committee.

UDF also seeks to have the committee given three months to “investigate the membership of the MRC, the organisational structure, operation, and he underlying causes for its proliferation,” and to report back to the House.

The UDF cite past unsuccessful crackdowns on the MRC and the “desire to find a lasting solution”, together with the constitutional freedom of association and movement, as the basis for their call to have the MRC‘s woes heard and determined.

ODM’s notice of motion had not been filed with the Clerk’s Office.

On the other hand, ODM now seeks to set up a parliamentary committee as a forum for negotiations with proscribed gangs, especially the Mombasa Republican Council. The secretary of the party’s parliamentary group, Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) has filed a motion in the House to that effect.

The party’s chief whip, Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), has also endorsed the motion, which comes just days after the party’s leader Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he was open to talks with the Mombasa Republican Council.

The motion, circulated to journalists at Parliament buildings, seeks to have 11 MPs picked to sit in the ad hoc committee that will go around the country collecting views on “redressing historical injustices”.

The quest for the committee comes just days after presidential contenders Raila Odinga of ODM and Musalia Mudavadi of UDF, promised to talk with the proscribed group that is based at the Coast.

The party is concerned that if the grievances raised by MRC and other “groups of similar or related complexion” are ignored, then the country will be exposed to  a “serious risk to the security, unity and stability of the nation”.

“Historical injustices, the culture of exclusion and the tendency of the State to remain impervious to genuine cries of the people is what traditionally underlies and fuels such groups, congregations and mobilisation,” said Mr Namwamba in the motion dated Friday, May 18.

Mr Namwamba noted in his prayers to the House, which are yet to be slotted for debate, that the committee will go around the country to “expeditiously determine the exact issues fuelling the emergence of groups such as MRC” and report back in 60 days.

The focus, according to the motion is that the MPs will be out to recommend measures that are in line with the Constitution and those which “protect the nation’s territorial integrity and guarantees justice and inclusivity for all Kenyans”.

The prayers are also resolute that the Constitution offers “boundless opportunities” to address the “historical injustices.”

UDF’s proposed committee will have Mr Kioni as the chairman, nominated MPs Shakila Abdalla (ODM-K), Rachel Shebesh (ODM), Maison Leshoomo (PNU), Sheikh Mohammed Dor (ODM), George Nyamweya (PNU), and MPs Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu,ODM), Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi,ODM), Benedict Gunda (Bahari,ODM), Isaac Muoki (Kitui South, ODM-K), Peris Simam (Eldoret South,ODM), Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri, PNU), Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford Kenya), James Rege (Karachuonyo,ODM) and Najib Balala (Mvita,ODM).

For ODM, there’s Mr Namwamba, Mr Masoud Mwahima (Likoni,ODM), Omar Zonga (Msambweni,ODM), Ekwee Ethuro (Turkana Central,PNU), Wilson Litole (Sigor,ODM), Martha Karua (Gichugu, Narc Kenya), Ms Abdalla (ODM-K), Ms Shebesh(ODM), Mr Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany,ODM), Ms Leshoomo (PNU) and Mr Gideon Mung’aro (Malindi,ODM).