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Storm over 'kerb-crawling MPs' | ||||
Kenya's media reported in detail how a minister, assistant minister and MP were caught on film during a police operation in a red light district. Labour Minister Ali Chirau Mwakwere says he will take legal action against the Daily Nation, for insinuating he was one of those arrested. But the newspaper's managing editor says they are standing by their story. Joseph Odindo told BBC News Online: " Anyone who wants to sue us, is free to do so. We will meet them in court." Police say no MPs were questioned but confirm Operation Twilight resulted in 102 girls being held for four days before being fined and then released. The lack of action taken against any clients has prompted complaints from church leaders.of double standards. Sleaze According to the Daily Nation newspaper, a police film shows the three politicians and several other businessmen beckoning girls to their cars in Koinange Street, and then helping them inside, before the police moved in.
It alleges that senior police officers intervened to have the three MPs released. But police deny taking any film during the operation. Commissioner of Police Edwin Nyaseda told a news conference on Monday that the only arrests made were those charged with loitering - and said no MPs were even spoken to by police.. The girls were all taken to court on 9 December and given fines ranging between $5 and $25. More than half of them were said to be students, highlighting the financial hardships faced by those studying at universities and those in higher education. To make ends meet, students are known to resort to all sorts of activities, like street selling and illegal brewing. IDs
The newspaper reports are an embarrassment for the Narc government, which was swept to power in elections a year ago promising to wage war on corruption and sleaze. Earlier this month, the government moved to shut down smaller unlisensed newspapers, which are nicknamed "sleaze sheets". They often contain lurid reports about Kenya's rich and famous with headlines such as "Minister, priest in sex romp" or "MP faints in toilet". Some ministers have already called for the police to charge any ruling party figures involved to resolve the speculation over their identities.
Catholic Bishop John Njue demanded any MPs caught should face justice. "When you arrest two people breaking the law, it is not fair to charge one person and free the accomplice," Bishop Njue told the Daily Nation newspaper. Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki called for them to lose their jobs, while Catholic priest Father John Nderitu wondered about their credibility. "How can they tell us that they are fighting HIV/Aids yet what they are doing is immoral, they are preaching water and drinking wine." | ||||
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