Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Mudavadi faults move to ditch ICC

By Allan Kisia and Joel Okwayo
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi says the public should be given a hearing on whether Kenya should pull out of the Rome Statute.
Mr Mudavadi said Kenyans should have the final say before such a move is taken.
"Before passing the Motion that sought to pull Kenya out of the statute, MPs should have asked the public what they think about it. Ordinary Kenyans were the victims of post-election violence," he added.
He said Kenyans want masterminds of the poll violence tried at by the International Criminal Court.
The Local Government minister regretted that the Government did not mobilise enough support to bring down the Motion.
He said before the country pulls out, the President has to send the relevant minister to the United Nations to formally withdraw.
"That has not happened. It is a long way to go," he said.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has also criticised MPs who supported the Motion, brought by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.
The premier accused MPs of applying double standards, noting that Government efforts to set up a local tribunal were thwarted twice.
Elsewhere, Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale says Kenyans should not raise funds to help meet expenses of the six post-election violence suspects facing trial at The Hague.
His sentiments were supported by Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya, who said the suspects should carry their own cross.
Oparanya said he would not support calls to offer financial support to suspects.
Oparanya and Khalwale said the suspects should prepare to defend themselves, without seeking protection from their communities.
The MPs, however, said ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo should expect co-operation from the Government.
"We expect the Government to co-operate with ICC even though Parliament passed a Motion seeking to pull the country out of the Rome Statute," Oparanya said at his Butere home during a meeting with leaders in the education sector.
Last week, Oparanya claimed the expenses could be too high for some suspects. Ocampo is seeking summons against six Kenyans he blames for the violence that followed the 2007 disputed presidential elections. More than 1,000 people were killed in the poll chaos.
Khalawale spoke at Mahira Primary School in Kakamega North District, during a bull fighting competition.

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