February 9th, 2009:
In Summary
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday said the government was committed to fighting corruption and constitutional reforms despite the challenges facing the coalition.
Mr Odinga, speaking at the burial of Mrs Pamela Mboya in Suba District, also sought to assure Kenyans that the coalition government was serious about fulfilling promises it had made on development in various parts of the country.
The prime minister called for unity in government to enable it deliver such promises.
But Lands minister James Orengo asked the President and the PM to remove from the cabinet people who had been linked to corrupt practices.
“If it is your right hand that causes you to sin, cut it off,” said Mr Orengo.
“Our past and present leaders have condoned impunity for long and it was now a challenge to the grand coalition to end this era by enacting a new constitution.”
A number of other leaders, who spoke during the burial of the widow of nationalist Tom Mboya at her home in Lambwe Valley, also called for unity in the coalition government and a new constitution.
They also asked the government to fight corruption and commit itself to addressing past injustices and impunity.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who read President Kibaki’s message of condolence, urged Kenyans to guard themselves against tribalism which he said was one of the major challenges facing the country.
“The only way out for Kenya was through the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission which would ensure that various communities commit to forgive each other and live in harmony,” said Mr Musyoka.
Mrs Mboya died of cancer at a South African hospital two weeks ago. Mr Mboya, an independence hero and a prominent minister in the Kenyatta Cabinet, was assassinated in 1969.
On Saturday Mr Odinga observed that though Kenya had a history of political assassinations, not a single one had been resolved.
“Kenyans would like to know who killed gallant Kenyans like Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, JM Kariuki and the rest. We want to know why all this took place,” Mr Odinga said on Saturday.
source.nation.ke