Today's Headlines
- Grand Coalition Government - There's Reason For Hope
- Jinja Craft Traders Evict Kenyans
- It's Time to Act On KFF
- Economic Plans for Rural Areas
- Flickers of Hope Amid Filth And Wasted Lives
- Law Report - Election Petition Struck Out Over Lack of Personal Service
- Now KRA Relaxes Rule On Vehicle Imports
- Rallying - Champion Tundo Wins Kcb Rally in Embu
- The Cutting Edge
- Coalition Here to Stay, Says Saitoti
- Kibaki to Lead Sh29 Billion Funds Drive for Refugees
- Prisons Crowded Following Mt Elgon Militia Clampdown
- Time for Top Leaders to Find New Wine Skins
- Region's MPs to Approve Budget
- Talk to Militia, Muite Tells Raila
- 65,000 Refugees Return Home
- Sort Out Problems in Higher Education
- MPs Accused of Derailing Plans to Move Victims
- ODM Eyes All Five Seats in By-Election
- Killing Raises Doubts Over Elgon Operation
- Make These Parties Worthwhile
- Hedge Against Trade Shifts
- Equity Earnings Grow By 81 Percent in First Quarter
- World Tea Prices Soar As Output in Country Drops Sharply
- Beach Paradise From the Inside Out
- Agra Launches $47 Million Credit Line for Farmers
- ICG Defamation of Runners Still Hurts
- Investors Woo Uchumi in Dramatic Reversal of Supermarket's Fortunes
- No More Preferential Treatment in WTO Negotiations
- Blood Pictures
The Nation (Nairobi)
May 9, 2008
News Article
Conflict over territorial boundaries between various ministries were exposed in Parliament on Thursday.
Those involved included Defence minister Yusuf Haji, Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojode and MPs Bonny Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford-K) and Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K).
Mr Haji declined to respond to a request for a statement over the military operation in Mt Elgon.
Area MP Fred Kapondi had asked the ministry to inform the House how many people had been killed and property destroyed in the operation.
"The request for the statement is misplaced because the correct ministry is that of Internal Security. What we (the military) are doing is only giving assistance," said Mr Haji.
House Speaker Kenneth Marende agreed with him noting that the Internal Security ministry was in charge of the operation flush out members of the Sabaot Land
Defence Forces. Just as Mr Ojode was sitting down after promising that they will deliver the statement next Wednesday, Dr Khalwale shot up and asked how the military landed in Mt Elgon.
"Mr Speaker, we would like your guidance here. How did the military men end up in Mt Elgon?" he posed before Mr Marende asked him to stop anticipating information to be contained in the statement.
Assistant minister
Said Mr Kapondi: "The locals highly supported this operation was in the beginning but they now hate it so much."
Mr Marende also directed Mr Ojode to respond to a supplementary question by Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabbir (ODM) who had wanted to know why the assistant minister was misleading the House that there was an anti-stock theft unit in Bondo district, Nyanza.
"Why is the minister saying that there is an anti-stock theft unit in Bondo when there is none?" he asked.
"He is asking about Bondo yet he comes from Kisumu Town East. He should be serious and we will respond," he said. But Dr Khalwale, on a point of order, said that once an MP has been elected, he can ask a question touching on any constituency.
Mr Ojode said there were three anti-stock theft units in Nyanza and one was located in Bondo District.
But Mr Shabbir said the units were located in Masaba and Kopere.
Reports by Owino Opondo and Bernard Namunane
