Ethiopian Review

Nairobi — Politicians named in the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights list of post-poll chaos suspects will collectively sue to have their names expunged.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala, Assistant Minister Elizabeth Ongoro and MP Omondi Anyanga said they would fight to get justice done.

They spoke as Lands Minister James Orengo told ODM MPs mentioned in the list that the party would hire lawyers to defend them.

Mr Orengo said the party had “able lawyers who shall defend the MPs named”.

Mrs Ongoro, who said she was ready “to defend my name” whether locally or internationally, claimed KNCHR “has lost credibility and will”.

“Who does not know the commission is full of aspiring politicians who want to implicate others in constituencies they have an interest? Who can respect the commission, going by the way it handled this matter,” she asked.

The Nairobi Metropolitan Assistant Minister, while touring her constituency, said MPs mentioned in the list would defend their names.

“I’m not going to address this matter individually. We want to approach it collectively. The report is based on rumours and trumped up allegations. I’m not shocked,” added the Kasarani MP.

The legislator said until Kenya addressed historical injustices behind the post-poll chaos, any interventions would not succeed.

How can I kill?

She added: “You cannot shut me up. Kasarani constituents know what happened. How can I kill my own constituents?”

Mr Anyanga, on his part, questioned the credibility of the commission and took issue with “the accusation of sponsoring youths to raid a local NCPB stores”.

“The report is a bunch of lies. There is no maize store in Nyatike. How can the commission allege such? I was never asked to defend myself. This thing is political,” he said.

Mr Balala said he would also go to court to seek legal redress.

On Friday, KNCHR released a report containing names of those suspected to have been behind the violence. Those mentioned include one PNU and six ODM ministers, 10 MPS, a number of former MPs from Nyanza, Rift Valley and Central, businessmen and religious leaders.

- By Maseme Machuka | The Standard