COAST MPS DEMAND KIBAKI'S RESPONSE TO THEIR MOU

DAILY NATION
By DANIEL NYASSY
December 29 2008

Coast MPs say they gave document to President and PM six months ago
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have not responded to a memorandum of understanding given to them by Coast MPs six months ago, the Coast Parliamentary Group has said.

The group will start demanding for answers to questions they raised to the two leaders from January 2009, CPG assistant chairman Gideon Mung’aro said on Monday.
Mr Mung’aro said CPG did not have any agenda with the Head of State during his current visit to the Coast for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“We met the President on his arrival at Moi International Airport. We did not have another appointment with him as CPG. We are giving him time to tackle the issues we raised in our June MoU,” said Mr Mung’aro.

Mr Mung’aro was clarifying claims that President Kibaki had locked out Coast MPs at State House, Mombasa, where the legislators traditionally visit him or take delegations whenever he is on holiday.

Among the contentious issues in the MoU are the perpetual land issue at the Coast, a full-fledged Coast university, ownership and management of the Kenya Ports Authority, the human-wildlife conflict and levies from the vibrant tourism sector in the area.

Mr Mung’aro said the Government had shown some positive signals by setting aside more than Sh200 million to re-open the Voi campus which admitted students this year.

“A programme to settle squatters was also launched and is ongoing under the management of Lands minister James Orengo.”

Some money was also set aside for the fencing off of game parks and reserves to confine wild animals, especially in Taita Taveta, Kwale and Malindi districts.

Mr Mung’aro said CPG would hold a special meeting next month to review the agendas raised in the MoU.