MPs open up on past differences at luncheon with CORD leaders

Opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula with the ‘Pangani Six’ yesterday when they had lunch together at a city restaurant. PHOTO: DAVID GICHURU/STANDARD

NAIROBI: It took a hearty meal of ugali and fish to soften the belligerent politicians, who poured their hearts out in symbolic confessions that bridged political fault lines. After nearly an hour of banter over a meal brokered from cold stinky cells at Pangani Police Station, the politicians from rival CORD and Jubilee coalitions reflected on past transgressions that had sowed ethnic hatred.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who set up the luncheon last week during visits to six MPs locked up over hate speech charges, was glad to pick the tab for the meal that cost him not more than Sh10,000.