PNU and ODM-K team to resolve row

Cabinet ministers and MPs allied to PNU and ODM-K on Thursday formed a 10-member committee to help resolve the stand-off between the Government and the media.

Addressing a news conference after a three-hour meeting at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said the team would engage the media owners to ensure the industry’s grievances are addressed.

It is understood that the meeting dwelt on dissipating the perception that only ODM was friendly to the media.

The meeting brought together MPs and officials from PNU, ODM-K, Kanu, Safina and other affiliate parties in the PNU coalition.

ODM disowned the law after it sailed through Parliament, but it remains hard-pressed to explain how it could not use its parliamentary majority to throw it out.

After the controversial Act was assented to, a sharp split emerged in the coalition in what was described by Prime Minister Raila Odinga as “a clear difference of opinion between ODM and the PNU/ODM-K alliance.”Mr Odinga was on Wednesday scheduled to meet the President over the matter.

Media friendly

The meeting attended by Mr Musyoka and Mr George Saitoti, both with presidential ambitions in the 2012 General Election, is said to have been concerned about the “monopoly” of ODM in the media over the past week.

Sources privy to the on-goings at the meeting, said the PNU and ODM-K alliance had sent the Vice-President to address the media after the gathering, since he is perceived to be “media friendly.”

“We understand that you cannot win a war against the media... we are now ready to work with you,” Mr Musyoka said.

A source said the PNU/ODM-K alliance wanted to water down the political mileage of ODM when the matter came before the Cabinet onThursday.