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News Sunday, October 19, 2003 Quotes from Narc conferenceTuesday's Narc Parliamentary Group meeting at Parliament Buildings has variously been described as "frank", obviously a euphemism for the stormy discussions. Probably because the President was absent, the MPs felt free to vent their feelings and say what they wanted.
Vice-President Moody Awori asked Danson Mungatana, of Garsen, to lead prayers. Then he explained: "When I asked Mungatana to pray, I did so because he caught my eye. Also I have heard him pray (before). Can I request the minutes for the last meeting? Can I ask the Chief Whip and the Secretary? We need to check minutes to see if they reflect the truth. Because of this we do not have an agenda". (Later, enumerating what he said were the achievements of the Narc administration): "One can now live with HIV/Aids like he has asthma. Free education has been given. Co-operative unions have become shareholders in the third mobile [telephone provider]. We are spending a lot of time with side-shows. The Opposition are laughing their heads off, fanning the fires. Don't ask what this country can do for you but what can you do for the country". Gor Sunguh (Kisumu Town East): It is difficult to 'whip' MPs to support [government] Bills. Some MPs were on TV calling some people Gods and devils. There were some unsavoury remarks about Cabinet ministers . . . some cabinet ministers called for others to be sacked. Kiraitu Murungi (South Imenti): On a point of clarification, I said I was fed up with the noise and that we need to focus on development. I said we should not attack each other. Reuben Ndolo (Makadara): Let us be one and unite. Let me blame the Kikuyus, Nyumba ya Mumbi [the House of Mumbi]. When Ndolo talks they say Raila is talking. When Raila wants to be a prime minister - why not? Why send young people to insult Raila? Why insult all mamas [mothers]? This must stop! Koigi Wamwere (Subukia): Mt Kenya Mafia, Mungiki, thieves, dogs, Lucifer, (then he utters an unprintable word). We have gone to the bottom. We have heckled and booed the President. Abusing hurts. Do we need each other? If we believe we don't, we will continue fighting. There is a lot of disenchantment. LDP [the Liberal Democratic Party] cannot take over. We are playing into the hands of Kanu. [Amagoro MP Sospeter] Ojaamong said they will destroy Narc from within and join Kanu. Kembi Gitura (Kiharu): Let the ministers show us the way. The President has chosen his cabinet . . . the newspapers are also dividing us . . . misquoting us. We need purpose of unity. Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East): The bone of contention is the MoU [Memorandum of Understanding]. Who are the dogs? Who are the masters? It is high time we came out. We have no unity. LDP should come out and castigate Kanu. Andrew Ligale (Vihiga): Let us institute a ceasefire. Let us start to censure those who speak outside the PG. I will not follow people blindly. I will not take insults from either side. The language is terrible. Kalembe Ndile (Kibwezi): Even if the MoU was not followed, do we finish ourselves? There are those who are saying they will kimbisha us [chase us out] us like [former President ] Moi. I am fed up! Ministers must behave! Wycliffe Osundwa (Mumias): Ministers are contradicting each other. Can a minister order the V-P [to call for party elections]?
David Musila (Mwingi South): Saturday was the climax. It reminded me of [former MPs in the Moi era] [Kariuki] Chotara and [Shariff] Nassir. Ministers must provide leadership in the PG and in the House. Assistant ministers should respect ministers. Many statements are being made left, right and centre. When did we discuss dissolution of parties? We will not go anywhere because we all belong. Amos Kimunya (Kipipiri): There is a mother-in-law syndrome. We keep running back to constituent parties. One cannot constitutionally belong to two parties. Betty Tett (Nominated): You men go out and shout and fight. You are showing your manhood. You men are letting us down. Raphael Wanjala (Budalang'i): Ministers are talking on each other's issues. Raila should now keep quiet about MoU and instead give us roads. Mungatana should also start playing some other politics. Peter Kenneth (Gatanga): We are not in control of the government. Kanu [controls] the civil service. The enemy has infiltrated us and wants to bring the government down. William ole Ntimama (Narok North): Bickering is concentrated in the cabinet. The rest of us are quiet. Cabinet should lead the country from in front, not sideways or behind. There is a lot of ethnicity and arrogance. Moi would get a bigger crowd.... Wycliffe Oparanya (Butere): Let the President tell us what should happen. He should talk to those who are fighting. Cecily Mbarire (Nominated): I am disappointed, I did not know about this kind of politics. Where are the jobs we promised? The need to deliver services to Kenyans is lost in the chest-thumping. Can we differentiate between the Cabinet and the [Narc supreme organ, the] Summit? We have party structures - where are they? Joseph Khamisi (Bahari): Respect is very important. There is arrogance within the cabinet. I have a bone to pick with [Karisa] Maitha, because of lack of respect and arrogance. MPs who visit other constituencies should first inform their hosts. This was violated in my constituency. Mutua Katuku (Mwala): Let's go back to the MoU - we review it and build a consensus. Are we a coalition or a party? If you abuse me today, I will abuse you back! The V-P (In his closing remarks): Let there be dialogue. When the young blood is boiling inside, let us not get near a microphone. Let us tolerate each other. Let us give the Kibaki government a good name. (Ms Mbarire leads the closing prayer). | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||
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