Leaders set conditions for apology over abuses

Some Coast leaders have set conditions for accepting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s apology for injustices Kenyans suffered in the hands of past regimes.

Three senators and five MPs said on Saturday that they would accept the apology only after grabbed land is returned to the indigenous people.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, who led the lawmakers, said a verbal apology without action would not endear the Head of State to the Coastal leadership and its residents.

“We would like to be told who killed Ronald Ngala and compensation should be made for the injustices during these eras. Merely asking for forgiveness will not be fine, especially for us in the Coast region,” said Mr Hassan.

The lawmaker also called on Coast leaders to stop fighting each other and focus on achieving unity.

He spoke at Pingilikani Village during the burial of Esther Mjeni Mwachiru, the mother of Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo.

At the same time, Mr Madzayo criticised the President for asking leaders to step aside for alleged corruption.

“Calling leaders to step aside is ill-conceived. The President should allow both constitutional and criminal procedures to be upheld,” he said.

The senator said President Kenyatta should bear in mind that he was not asked to step aside when he was asked to appear at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.

Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy differed with the other elected leaders. He praised the President’s call for some leaders to step aside to facilitate investigations.

“The idea of investigating the leaders needs to be supported. We should not frustrate efforts to fight corruption that has been perpetuated since the rule of presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and now Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.