Hypocritical
The African Group, comprising African delegations to the ongoing UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, criticised Prof. Alston and said it did not support the renewal of his contract. Delegates under the non-aligned movement are expected to follow suit this week.
UN investigations follow a strict procedure intended to protect countries from interference in domestic affairs by investigators and to grant governments a fair hearing.
The African Group, and many Third World countries which have been subject of similar investigations, are concerned that Prof. Alston did not follow that procedure.
He, for example, is accused of relying on reports compiled by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights without confirming the facts in it. He is also accused of making his report public at a press conference without first discussing it with the government.
Mr Odinga said the government will abide by the joint presentation made at the council by Internal Security minister George Saitoti. In the presentation, the government conceded that there had been unlawful killings by police and agreed to undertake reforms.
Mr Odingas remarks are likely to unsettle the PNU half of the Grand Coalition which has been supporting the push by the African Group to have Prof. Alston sacked.
The PM flew to Geneva to give a speech at the UN meeting on Climatic Change and Disaster Management.
It is likely that his aides, Mr Miguna Miguna and Mr Salim Lone, who are already in Geneva, are working to organise a meeting with the UNHRC bosses.
Mr Odinga hinted he was likely to meet UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.
There have been expressions of interest for a meeting but I cannot confirm. In any case, our team was there and gave a position, he said.
But Mr Lone told the Nation that the PM will meet Judge Pillay to show Kenyas commitment to human rights.
The PM, for sure, will discuss with the High Commissioner for Human Rights the breakthrough the coalition government had last week when both parties in Geneva were able to come up with a common position on the Alston report, he said.
Asked if Mr Odinga will also meet Mr Annan, Mr Lone said: It is possible but no meeting has been organised yet.
On Thursday, Mr Annan said Kenyan leaders had until end of August to set up a local tribunal or he will forward the Waki list to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
The list contains names of about ten key politicians, including Cabinet ministers, who are accused of sponsoring or organising the post-election violence in which 1,133 people were killed.
The priority for Mr Odingas meetings will be to speak on efforts to end impunity in Kenya, Mr Lone said.
Although Mr Lone was unaware of who was accompanying the PM, other sources said Lands minister James Orengo and Higher Education Minister Sally Kosgey, both of whom were part of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Conference, are part of the team.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights vice-chairman Omar Hassan is also accompanying the PM.
Daliy Nation