Activists call for disbandment of Kibunjia led commission

BY FELIX OLICK

A group of civil society organisations want the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) disbanded for being a drain on taxpayers’ money.

The five civil society organisations maintained that the Mzalendo Kibunjia led commission has failed in its mandate and instead is aggravating ethnic tensions in the country.

Led by Organisation for National Empowerment Director Benji Ndolo, The Rights Activist issued a 30-day ultimatum to the commissioners to vacate or they would camp at their offices to demand for their exit.

They said that NCIC lacks muscle, infrastructure and a clear mode of operation to execute its mandate.

NCIC chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU /STANDARD]

"The truth is that this country has become more tribal than it was before the 2007 General Elections. The question that must be asked is, what has NCIC achieved so far and are we as a nation on the way to cohesion?" posed Ndolo.

Speaking to the press on Friday in a Nairobi Hotel, the Activist accused the Commission of being mum on political leaders whom they claimed are dividing the country along ethnic lines.

They said Kibunjia is handling the political leaders with ‘kid gloves’ arguing that he remained tight lipped after the GEMA and KAMATUSA meetings.

National Chairman Super Ethnic Rights Forum Sheikh Ahmadi faulted Kibunjia for sensationally claiming that there was tension in Nyanza.

Kibunjia had on Tuesday claimed that there was tension in Kisumu between the Luos and Kisiis following assassination claims against Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

"The reports we are getting are that indeed there are no tensions in the region. Is this an admission of failure? What Kibunjia is doing is to polarise the country himself," said Ahmadi.

They warned that the security of Raila is a priority for the country since a plot on his life could mean absolute disaster.

They also defended Joint Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo for blowing the whistle arguing that the massacre in Rwanda was triggered by the shooting of a plane of President Juvenal Habyarimana.

The Activists hit out at Truth Justice and Reconciliation Chairman Jeremiah Kiplagat for attending the KAMATUSA meeting in Eldoret two weeks ago.

They described Kiplagat’s return at the truth team as a political gimmick meant to sweep under the carpet atrocities committed in past regimes.