Kenyans' faith in Ocampo unwavering

By Peter Orengo and Mutinda Mwanzia
An opinion poll shows that Kenyans still favour the International Criminal Court process and do not support efforts by the Government to pull out.
Some 57 per cent of those interviewed said those suspected to be most responsible for post-election violence should be tried at The Hague, while 24 per cent favoured a local tribunal.
But 19 per cent of Kenyans felt the Ocampo Six should be forgiven.
Among those polled, 61 per cent said they did not support efforts to pull out of the ICC, while 36 per cent supported the move.
Only a paltry one per cent said they were not aware of the efforts to pull out of the ICC process while another one per cent said they were not sure.
According to the poll conducted by Synovate Kenya, preference for The Hague has increased by 12 per cent from June last year to last month.
The pollster observed that the latest nominations by the Executive have created the impression — true or not — that there is a grand scheme to shield the six from The Hague.
On the use of taxpayers’ money to defend the suspects, an overwhelming 85 per cent gave an emphatic ‘No’, while 13 per cent urged the Government on.
Another one per cent said they were not sure whether the funds should be used.
Ever since ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced he would be seeking summonses against six personalities, the Government has embarked on efforts to rally Africa to support Kenya on setting up a local tribunal to try the suspects.
Government argues that failure to defer the cases and investigation against the six would threaten peace and security, and that the Government was capable of setting up a credible judicial option locally, to replace the ICC.
Shuttle diplomacy
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s shuttle diplomacy to convince African governments to support postponement of the trials elicited heated debate in Parliament, with MPs seeking to know whether the mission was worthwhile and its value on taxpayers’ money.
Kalonzo, who is also Leader of Government Business in Parliament, told the House the mission cost Sh31.5 million.
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, who is a member of Kalonzo’s ODM-Kenya party, questioned the logic of the VP’s trips. Mutula argued the only brand of diplomacy that could be undertaken was with the United Nations Security Council.