Amnesty Proposal Sows Discord in Kenya Coalition Cabinet

Ministers in Kenya’s coalition cabinet have differed sharply over a proposal to effect a blanket amnesty for all suspects detained over the post-election violence witnessed in the country earlier in this year. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Premier Uhuru Kenyatta and Justice Minister Martha Karua have led several other cabinet ministers from President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU alliance in a round rejection of the proposal, while the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wing led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Agriculture Minister William Ruto has continued to demand the release of youths arrested during the skirmishes. Foreign minister Moses Wetangula told the press in Nairobi that the issue would be tabled at a cabinet meeting this Thursday. [P.E]