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A Kenyan Legislator Condemns Election of Implementation Committee Leadership

   Peter Clottey 06 October 2010
   CAPE  TOWN/SOUTH AFRICA, 10JUN2009 -Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister
   of  Kenya,  Kenya  Business  Alliance  Against  Chronic Hunger - World
   Economic  Forum  on  Africa  2009 in Cape Town, South Africa, June 10,
   2009

Photo: Creative Commons - Copyright World Economic Forum / Matthew Jordaan

   CAPE  TOWN/SOUTH AFRICA, 10JUN2009 -Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister
   of  Kenya,  Kenya  Business  Alliance  Against  Chronic Hunger - World
   Economic  Forum  on  Africa  2009 in Cape Town, South Africa, June 10,
   2009

   The  chairman  of Kenyaâs Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee said
   Wednesday   nightâs  election  of  the  chairman  and  deputy  of  the
   parliamentary  committee  to  oversee  the  implementation  of the new
   constitution is not in the best interest of Kenyans.

   Doni  Khalwale said the election was full of political expediency that
   can  only  consolidate  the powers of both the Party of National (PNU)
   and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

   âWhat  has  happened  is  a  bit  disturbing  because a chair has been
   elected  whereas  the Orange Democratic Movement members of parliament
   boycotted   that  meeting  which  in  effect  means  the  decision  is
   unilateral.  So, all we want to ask members parliament and the Kenyan
   community  at  large is parliament is reconvening (this afternoon) and
   we shall address this.â

   Kenyaâs  Parliamentary  Oversight Committee elected Mohammed Abdikadir
   from  the  PNU and Millie Odhiambo from the ODM as chairman and deputy
   chairperson    of    the    parliamentary   implementation   committee
   respectively.

   The  ODM boycotted the election over dispute surrounding the election.
   Chairman  Abdikadir  said  he  will hold his first meeting Thursday to
   build consensus between the PNU and the ODM.

AFP Photo

   Kenya's parliament

   Both  Abdikadir  and Ms Odhiambo are currently the chairman and deputy
   of Kenyaâs parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee.

   But,  Jakoyo  Midiwo,  the  ODMâs  chief whip called on members of his
   party   to   boycott  any  scheduled  meeting  of  the  implementation
   committee.

   He  said âMr. Abdikadir and Ms Odhiambo as chair and vice-chair of the
   legal  affairs  committee could not be chair and the vice-chair of the
   Implementation Oversight Committee.â

   Khalwale said he will seek to reverse the election of the chairman and
   his deputy as Kenyaâs parliament reconvenes Thursday afternoon.

   âDefinitely, it is going to be redressed because as late as (Wednesday
   night),  we  have  been holding consultations as members of parliament
   who are both from the ODM and PNU sides and we think that the interest
   of the nation is more important than political party expediency.â

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