Government fails to meet the deadline

The government has admitted that it won't meet the deadline set by International Criminal court-ICC- Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo on the prosecution of suspects of the post election violence.

Admitting defeat, the minister for Justice Mutula Kilonzo called on Ocampo to move in fast adding that he had the blessings and support of the cabinet.

"Nobody has asked Ocampo to extend the deadline and his coming in will be a big relief to me as I have lots of work in making of a new constitution and boundaries review."

The minister termed the defeat as a national disaster but was quick to defend himself saying that he had done his part only for the cabinet to reject his proposals.

The move paves way for the ICC to move in and arrest the perpetrators of the violence and prosecute them in The Hague.

With the deadline set for September 30th, Mutula called on Ocampo to intervene as it had become impossible to set a local tribunal.

"We have only nine days and am sorry we cannot beat the deadline by producing a tribunal of international standards as directed by ICC,"

The minister was addressing the press at Great Rift Valley Lodge after opening a three day induction workshop for members of TJRC.

"Parliament has adjourned without discussing the Manyara bill which would have facilitated the formation of a local tribunal,"

"We can only arrest suspects of crimes like rape and arson but crimes against humanity, only the ICC can act on the suspects," he added.

He dismissed reports by human rights activists that the ICC prosecutor was waiting for an invitation to come into the country for more investigations.

According to him, the prosecutor was free to come to the country anytime terming the ICC as ‘Kenyan court'.

"If he wanted an invitation, then that would fall under the docket of the minister for internal security George Saitoti whose ministry deals with international crime,"

He said that the agreement reached on the 3rd of July in Hague had wanted a report on witness protection programme and the investigations of PEV.

"We have achieved the two but failed to convince Kenyans that we can have a capable judicial system which can handle suspects of PEV.' He said.

On TJRC, the minister said that the retreat was meant to take the commissioners through the new act of parliament.

He admitted that TJRC's were known to be expensive and urge the members to design a process that was cognizant of the financial constrains.

"TJRC is the culmination of efforts to address historical injustices dating back many years ago,"

He added that the national cohesion and integration commission would be sworn in soon to deal with present injustices.

Others present during the retreat were TJRC chairman Bethwel Kiplagat, vice chair Betty Murungi among others.