Sunday, December 19, 2010

ODM to raise funds for Kosgey's legal defence


The minister for trade Henry Kosgey (right) speaks during a press conference on December 16, 2010 at the Norfolk Hotel. The minister denied being involved in the post-elections violence. PHOTO / JENNIFER MUIRURI
The minister for trade Henry Kosgey (right) speaks during a press conference on December 16, 2010 at the Norfolk Hotel. The minister denied being involved in the post-elections violence. PHOTO / JENNIFER MUIRURI  
By MAURICE KALUOCHPosted Sunday, December 19 2010 at 16:16

ODM plans to raise funds to facilitate the hiring of lawyers to defend its chairman Henry Kosgey at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
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Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang on Sunday revealed that the party would fund raise to assist Mr Kosgey and "any other member who will make request for funds."
The International Criminal Court has indicated that the six suspects should shoulder their expenses.
The six suspects are deputy Prime Minister and minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta, Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey, suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto, post-master general Hussein Ali, Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura and journalist Joshua Arap Sang.
Calculations by Nation show that between Sh500,000 to Sh1 million is needed daily to hire a legal team that can match the prosecutor’s highly experienced one.
The legal team can be chosen from a list of lawyers accredited by the special court, which has only nine from Kenya.
Kenyan lawyers accredited by the ICC are Prof Githu Muigai, Mr Mbuthi Gathenji, Mr Arthur Igeria, Mr Wilfred Nderitu, Mr Boniface Njiru, Mr Kennedy Ogetto, Albert Kamunde, Ms Mary Wambui Njogu and Ms Chana Sureta.
Although the ICC is obliged to provide accused persons with a lawyer, this is usually not enough as one would like to assemble a team complete with research assistants.
To defend a high profile criminal case in Kenya costs anything between Sh40,000 to Sh80,000 a day. The ICC lawyers will charge about the same, with the assistants taking home half that.
Speaking on Sunday in his Mbita constituency, Mr Kajwang noted that ODM had emerged as the biggest casualty after ICC prosecutor Moreno - Ocampo unveiled his list of six suspects.
The list included party chairman Henry Kosgey and deputy party leader William Ruto.
“As a party, we will have to require some time to get a suitable replacement for Mr Kosgey. We want someone who can steer the party the way he (Kosgey) did,” said Mr Kajwang’.
He spoke at the burial of the late councillor Obambo Imbo of Gembe central ward.
Mr Kajwang’ urged ODM supporters in Rift Valley province not to blame Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the inclusion of Kosgey and Ruto in the list of suspects.
“The naming of the 6 people by Mr Moreno Ocampo was beyond the party and its party leader who could do nothing to avoid it,” he added.
The Immigration Minister also petitioned the government to rein on vernacular radio stations found to be peddling hatred among ethnic communities.
Mr Kajwang said the only way to avoid another ethnic animosities is for the government to deal with those ethnic radio stations that allow some listeners to make utterances that incite unrest.

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