Kibaki sacks Godhana as assistant minister
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Galole MP Dhadho Godhana who has been dismissed in connection to the Tana River clashes September 12, 2012. NATION MEDIA GROUP
By PETER LEFTIE
pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com AND PPS
Posted Wednesday, September 12 2012 at 21:30
In Summary
- Earlier in the day, Mr Godhana was picked up by police at Panari Hotel in Nairobi and held at Muthaiga Police Station.
- He was charged with incitement to violence at a Nairobi court and later released on a Sh500,000 cash bail. The case set for hearing on October 2.
- The arrest and prosecution happened as President Kibaki met Coast MPs at his Harambee House office over the clashes.
President Kibaki has dismissed Galole MP Dhadho Godhana as Livestock assistant minister after he was arrested and charged with incitement to violence in Tana Delta.
Earlier in the day, Mr Godhana was picked up by police at Panari Hotel in Nairobi and held at Muthaiga Police Station.
He was charged with incitement to violence at a Nairobi court and later released on a Sh500,000 cash bail. The case is set for hearing on October 2.
The arrest and prosecution happened as President Kibaki met Coast MPs at his Harambee House office over the clashes.
Tempers flared at the meeting when Medical Services assistant minister Kazungu Kambi accused Internal Security minister Yusuf Haji and Mr Godhana of fuelling the revenge attacks that have claimed the lives of 42 villagers since Monday.
Mr Haji is said to have responded angrily to the allegation, telling the meeting that he had actually gone out of his way to restrain the residents of his Ijara constituency, which neighbours the Tana Delta, from launching revenge attacks in the violence-torn area after one of their own was killed by Pokomo raiders.
Mr Godhana, and Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, who was held up in Parliament moving a motion urging the government to deploy the military to the affected area, did not attend the meeting.
The MPs, who were led by Mr Najib Balala (Mvita), asked the President to order the deployment of the military to quell the violence as the various police units had failed to restore peace.
The proposal was, however, shot down with President Kibaki maintaining that only the General Service Unit (GSU) would be sent to the area.
A statement from the Presidential Press Service (PPS) said that the MPs expressed their full support for the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the government two days ago.
More security personnel
The meeting also resolved that more security personnel be sent to the area as the victims were provided with humanitarian support, including food and non-food items, reconstruction of houses and restocking.
"The meeting also agreed on government facilitation of a leaders' meeting, intensified peace and reconciliation initiatives and assistance of Lamu, Malindi and other hospitals to cope with the current demands," the statement read.
The President and the MPs also agreed that all political leaders suspected to be behind the violence be arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking in Mombasa, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka called for an end to the skirmishes. He said the government would act decisively on those fuelling the animosities.
"The Tana River madness is hurting the good image of Kenya," he added. Mr Musyoka was speaking during the ongoing primary school head teachers' meeting.
Kibaki sacks Godhana as assistant minister- Politics|nation.co.ke
