Leave Migingo row to Kibaki, Moi tells leaders

By standard team

Former President Moi has said President Kibaki is the only one who should deal with the Migingo Island dispute with the Ugandan Government.

He said the President should be the sole spokesman over the matter.

"We have many different voices, leaving people wondering who is who," Moi said.

The former president was speaking at the Africa Inland Church, Emining, in Mogotio during the installation of the Rev Paul Raimoi as Bishop of the AIC Central Rift.

Former President Moi addresses Christian worshippers after the installation of Bishop Paul Raimoi at Emining, Koibatek, yesterday. [PHOTO: LUCAS THUO]

Meanwhile, Lands Minister James Orengo has vowedhe will not apologise to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda over his remarks on the Migingo Island row.

Mr Orengo said he had no apologies yet, saying Museveni appeared not to be well informed about islands in Lake Victoria.

"I will only apologise after the Ugandan president gets a better understanding of all islands in Lake Victoria," said the minister.

Speaking during the burial Shinyalu MP Charles Lugano at the weekend, Orengo told Museveni to get more information on the matter.

No need for UN

While addressing Kenyan journalists at Entebbe International Airport last week, Museveni demanded an apology from Orengo, saying he had called Ugandans hyenas during a recent visit by Kenyan and Ugandan officials to Migingo.

Museveni maintained Uganda’s claim of Migingo and declared he was not about to apologise for saying Luos are mad.

Adding their voice on the issue, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and Information and Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio have told off Kenyan MPs urging President Kibaki to order war with Uganda.

Mr Wetangula said those beating war drums were enemies of Western Province since the region would be the battleground.

"Let me assure all those beating war drums from the rooftops to relax because diplomacy is going on over Migingo and we will only succeed through that route," he said.

Echoing Wetangula’s sentiments, Minister Poghisio asked Kenyan and Ugandan politicians to restrain from provocative utterances, which could trigger violence between countries.

At the Mogotio function, former President Moi asked church leaders to desist from wrangles over leadership positions and instead concentrate on preaching the Gospel.

"Fighting for leadership positions will not help you. Church leaders should remain united in serving the Lord," Moi said in an apparent reference to wrangles in the AIC Church.

He supported the idea of creating more Church zones, saying that would help spread the Word of God.

"If you get a bishop near your place, it brings the Gospel closer. But instead of appreciating, some people resort to grumbling and creating controversies," Moi said.

Addressing the congregation, Youth and Sports Minister Hellen Sambili, who is also the local MP, said the Church is the conscience of the nation.

By Allan Kisia/ Robert Wanyonyi and Osinde Obare