Gaddafi backs Kenya's quest for ICC deferral

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is received by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi when he arrived at the President's home in the suburbs of Tripoli last year. Gaddafi has supported Kenya’s intention to request the UN Security Council to call for deferment of its cases at the International Criminal Court. VPPS 

By VPPSPosted Friday, January 28 2011 at 10:51

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has supported Kenya’s intention to request the UN Security Council to call for deferment of its cases at the International Criminal Court.

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Mr Gaddafi said Kenya was an important member of multilateral institutions like the African Union and United Nations and therefore its considered opinion on how to handle her internal affairs should be respected.

“Africa has come of age in the respect of human rights and provision of justice. If Kenya says they want to use local judicial mechanism and demonstrate that this will be so in respect to the suspects of the post-election violence then so be it,” said the Libyan leader.

The Libyan leader who met Kenya’s Vice President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka at his retreat farm in the outskirts of the capital Tripoli said African problems requires African solutions, adding that the continent should only attract international attention in case members are completely unable to handle their internal affairs.

The VP, who was accompanied by Tourism minister Najib Balala and Nominated MP Mohamed Affey said Kenya was committed to the continued implementation of the Rome Statute and recognition of the role the ICC plays in securing respect for human rights and delivery of justice globally.

“All that we are asking is for a deferral to allow the setting up of a local judicial mechanism to try the suspects of the post-election violence. This is the only way we can encourage Kenyans to have faith and trust in the brand new institutions being established under the new constitution," said Mr Musyoka.

The VP noted that Kenyans sought a new constitutional dispensation for over 20 years and it was time they now supported the entrenchment of institutions created by the new supreme law.

Citing the eminent appointment of a new Chief Justice and new Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Musyoka said the new judicial officers should be able to impartially dispense justice to all Kenyans.

Mr Musyoka will proceed to Nigeria to lobby the UN Security Council member to support Kenya’s position ahead of the AU heads of States and Government Summit where Kenya’s position will be presented by President Kibaki.