Raila vows action against Gicheru and Ali

Prime Minister Raila Odinga trained his guns on Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, vowing that the government would soon take action against them.

He accused the Judiciary of “rot and incompetence” and the police of a shoot-to-kill approach and impunity in quelling last year’s post-election violence.

The PM said the coalition government would go on a retreat at the weekend to discuss urgent reforms as it enters its second year. Among the issues are reforms in the Judiciary and the police force.

“I am telling you not to listen to what the Chief Justice and Police Commissioner are saying. They are the ones on the dock... We are the ones going to take action as government,” Mr Odinga told journalists at his Treasury Building office in Nairobi. Police have been criticised for illegal executions and the Judiciary for failure to conclude corruption cases.

Mr Odinga said the Judiciary was guilty of stalling the war against corruption and asked why criminal cases involving some top government officials remained in court for years. They should be speedily concluded.

The PM said the coalition was on schedule in implementing the reforms it was supposed to under Agenda IV of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Accord.

The issues include writing a new constitution, conducting legal and land reforms, tackling unemployment, ensuring equity and fighting poverty.

A committee has been formed to help give the country a new constitution, plans were afoot to establish an independent electoral review commission to replace the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya while Kazi kwa Vijana (jobs for youth) initiative has been launched for the youth.

Mr Odinga regretted that efforts to deal with post-election violence in accordance with the Waki report had not been concluded because the formation of a tribunal to try those responsible were blocked by those who suspect their names feature in the Waki list.

Media accused

He accused the media of campaigning for the suspects to be tried at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Mr Odinga said the government hoped to reintroduce a fresh Bill for the formation of a local tribunal. He said the Ministry of Lands will table two Bills on land reforms in the Cabinet next week.

He added that the government will carry out radical reforms of the Judiciary and the police and a team is being formed to oversee the process.

During its weekend retreat, the Grand Coalition Management Committee would agree on reforms and when they would be implemented. The 14-member committee is headed by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga and draws membership from both ODM and PNU.

The PM denied that most Kenyans were disappointed with the coalition’s leadership, saying many people had high expectations that some things would be done “overnight”.

The world economic crisis had made the situation worse, the PM said, adding that he was hopeful the coalition would find favour with Kenyans once the current famine eased and the high cost of living came down.

Mr Odinga dismissed a suggestion by the Head of Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, that he be paid a salary equal to that of the Vice-President. He said the National Accord was clear that he was equal to President Kibaki.

However, since President Kibaki was “also performing” some duties as Head of State, he could only accept a salary between the VP’s and the President’s, he said.

He said being paid the same salary as the VP would reverse the pecking order in the accord, which says he and President Kibaki were equal partners.