By Oscar Obonyo

ODM now wants individuals who bungled the 2007 presidential poll arrested and charged by International Criminal Courts (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo.

In what seemed like a well-choreographed tune, speaker after speaker implored Moreno-Ocampo to go for the "real culprits" – those who "caused" and not "reacted" to the chaos. The calls came on the morning Moreno-Ocampo left the country after consultations with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Setting the tempo, at a funds drive for Lang’ata Youth Enterprise Fund in Kibera, Nairobi, was Nominated MP Musa Sirma. He said although the Chairman of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya Samuel Kivuitu had been relieved of his duties "for declaring the wrong man as President", he was yet to be held accountable for "election theft".

"Where I come from we have a saying that a hare does not blame he who hits it with a stone, but rather the one who smokes it out from its hideout," said Sirma.

"Ocampo should go for those who stole our votes, because they are the ones who plunged this country into chaos," said Finance Assistant Minister, Oburu Oginga.

His Defence counterpart, Joseph Nkaissery wondered what Moreno-Ocampo’s "real mission" was.

He told the prosecutor to "stop wasting peoples’ time and go for the real culprits".

The apparent change of tune by ODM is in line with the position Agriculture Minister and Deputy Party Leader, William Ruto, has all along held. Ruto has previously differed with the PM over the handling of post-election violence victims.

ODM’s position is bound to irk political rivals in PNU, who have pushed for the punishment of those who protested violently against the poll results by damaging property, including causing murder.

Nonetheless, it seems ODM’s position is a mere protest statement to ICC. The Rome Statute, which Kenya has signed and which guides the prosecution process, only recognises "crimes against humanity". Poll rigging, is not considered.

pm steered of politics

But steering clear of politics, the PM confined himself to three key issues – Kazi kwa Vijana programme, constitutional review and hostilities amongst Kibera residents over house rent.

Raila conceded Kazi Kwa Vijana had been fleeced of cash. He noted that of the initial Sh5 billion advanced to the kitty, Sh1 billion had been misused in the pretext of purchasing "jembes, wheelbarrows and other implements".

"The programme was meant to temporarily cushion against joblessness by offering instant cash to youths. But now we are going back to the drawing board to seal all loopholes and avenues of theft," said the PM.

On constitution making, the PM said legislators on all sides of the political divide would strive to agree on all issues before taking them for a referendum to avoid a volatile situation such as one witnessed in 2005.

On the tenancy, Raila warned there were no landlords in Kibera since the land available is Government land.

"It is therefore wrong for those who were momentarily accorded a small piece of land to put up shelters for personal use to turn them into rental units and immoral amounts for rent," he said warning them of dire consequences.