Muthama and ODM-K leaders differ on trials

By BOB ODALO bodalo@ke.nationmedia.com AND ERIC WAINAINA rc.wainaina@gmail.com
Posted Monday, October 4 2010 at 22:00
In Summary

Kangundo MP, who is also party member, pushes for hearing of cases at The Hague

Deputy government chief whip Johnstone Muthama has differed with ODM Kenya leaders, who are against taking suspected masterminds of the post-election violence to The Hague.

This comes as victims expressed anger over failure by the government to release minutes of sensitive security meetings to the International Criminal Court.

Mr Muthama, who is the Kangundo MP and a member of ODM-K, urged the government not to provide a safe haven for the suspected planners and financiers of the chaos that claimed more than 1,100 lives and left 650,000 displaced.

The MP said crimes committed by those who bankrolled the clashes, as well as those who killed and maimed Kenyans, were so serious that they should be tried at The Hague.

ODM-K leader Kalonzo Musyoka and secretary-general Mutula Kilonzo have shown a soft heart on the question of taking the suspects to The Hague.

“These people knowingly and willingly held meetings to kill and harm Kenyans. They paid marauding gangs to help them in their mission, they had a hidden agenda and they should not be shielded from meeting Ocampo at The Hague,” he said.

He spoke at the weekend during a funds drive for Misyani Girls High School in his constituency.