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Kenya

Parties accuse police of excessive force

NAIROBI, August 27- The Commission of Inquiry Investigating Post Election Violence completed its second round of sittings in Nairobi by receiving testimonies from the two main political parties in the country.

Appearing before the commission on Wednesday, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Secretary General Anyang Nyong’o, maintained that the party was not responsible for the skirmishes and instead accused the police of over handedness in handling of demonstrations.

When asked what the party did to prevent cases of sexual abuse which recorded an increase during the period, the Secretary General explained that ODM leader Raila Odinga, his wife Ida and other senior party members toured parts of the country and appealed to the supporters to protect the women and children from harm,

On the other hand, Party National of Unity (PNU) Council Secretary George Nyamweya told the Justice Waki-led Commission that the chaos had been pre-planned in Rift Valley adding that the announcement of election results only triggered violence in Western and Nyanza provinces.

Nyamweya claimed that investigations by the party indicated that tensions among communities were heightened by the debate over the implementation of a Majimbo system of governance.

He was however taken to task by lawyer Harun Ndubi appearing on behalf of the Civil Society Organisations who accused PNU of misleading its supporters by claiming that ODM was propagating federalism rather than devolution of resources.

Both parties blamed the police for mishandling the crisis with Nyamweya saying that the response in some parts of the country was wanting while in others they reacted brutally.

Meanwhile, the Commission Chairman Phillip Waki said their report would be ready by October.

“We will be in Mombasa for the second sittings and then take another fifteen days to finalise our work,” said Waki.

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