NAIROBI, October 28 – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Parliamentary Group meeting meant to resolve differences within the party over the report by the Waki Commission of Inquiry into Post Election Violence has been cancelled at the last minute.
The meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning was called off by Party Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo who sent text messages to party Members of Parliament (MP) on Monday night, but failed to give any reason for the cancellation.
A number of rebels MPs within ODM immediately expressed their disappointment over the annulment. Led by Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny the legislators mostly from Rift Valley province said they would hold a press conference at Parliament Buildings, where the meeting was to be held, to express their dissatisfaction.
Mr Kutuny said the meeting was to discuss very important issues, including deadly post election violence which was the worst in their region and should not have been postpone.
ODM Deputy Leader Musalia Mudavadi had on Monday expressed optimism that the meeting would resolve differences within the party over the report, handed to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga two weeks ago. Members of Parliament at the meeting would have been given the opportunity to freely express their views on the controversial report before a common stand was adopted.
The postponement of the meeting is however likely to divide the party further.
ODM leaders, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Agriculture Minister William Ruto, have sharply differed on the implementation of the report, with the PM saying post-election violence suspects must answer for their alleged crimes at the Special Tribunal for Kenya or the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Mr Ruto has however trashed the Report describing it as useless and accusing the Waki team of not meeting its mandate.
The Agriculture Minister who was the first government official to dismiss the report has criticised the Commission for drawing up a list of suspects without exhaustively investigating their role in the post-election violence.
Elsewhere, Ford-Kenya was expected to hold its Parliamentary Group meeting at the Party Headquarters later on Tuesday.
Chairman Musikari Kombo on Monday said the meeting would culminate in a party statement on the Waki Commission findings.
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