Parliament reopens on Tuesday with a crowded reform agenda likely to be derailed by bitter divisions over the fate of the so-called Ocampo Six.
Yet despite all the bluff and bluster we are witnessing on the political platform and misguided diplomatic junkets, it is apparent that time is running out.
Unless they opt to defy the summonses issued by the International Criminal Court, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr William Ruto, Mr Henry Kosgey, Mr Francis Muthaura, Mr Hussein Ali and Mr Joshua Sang will in just over a fortnight be standing in the dock at The Hague fighting off charges of crimes against humanity.
In the remaining time, they might ponder what went wrong and to what extent their own missteps led to the current situation.
They might want to look at the sort of strategists and advisors they surrounded themselves with. They could do no worse than to start with the role being claimed by one ‘Dr’ David Matsanga, a former spokesman for murderous Joseph Kony, leader of Uganda infamous Lord’s Resistance Army.
Fresh from speaking for a fugitive wanted at The Hague for the most horrendous crimes against humanity, Mr Matsanga has become a frequent fixture on Kenyan media, claiming to speak for the Ocampo Six. He is even publicly advising his “clients” against honouring the ICC summonses because of the risk that they might be arrested.
When I mentioned to some colleagues from neighbouring Uganda that one of their illustrious sons had been contracted by the Kenya Government and/or the Ocampo Six to provide strategic and PR advice, the guffaws could be heard from Kampala to Nairobi.
Clearly, Mr Matsanga’s own countrymen are far from impressed with the credentials of the self-proclaimed expert on conflict resolution.
They offer plenty of tales on the man’s history of strange escapades in the Uganda political arena, coupled with extravagant claims on his qualifications and experience in both local and international affairs.
Woe betide the Ocampo Six if they heed asinine advice from a dodgy character and defy ICC summonses.
Defiance might seem like an attractive proposition. The ICC has no police force of its own to arrest anyone, and the Kenya Government and its security agencies are at present unlikely to act on any warrants that might be issued.
It might also seem like an attractive option for those who want to throw caution to the winds and work towards reaping maximum political capital from the charges put forth by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
I saw somewhere a write-up on Uhuru Kenyatta, drawing parallels with his father, Jomo Kenyatta, who was imprisoned by the British colonialists and then came out to triumphantly to lead the country to independence.
The writer seemed unsure, however, whether Mzee was jailed on trumped-up charges, or whether he really was the leader of the Mau Mau as charged.
I can bet someone else has already been commissioned to work on a piece comparing William Ruto Samoei with the legendary Koitalel arap Samoei, who at the turn of the last century, led the Nandi resistance against colonial rule.
However, I doubt at this stage whether it would be wise for anyone to turn himself into an international fugitive. This is especially so when prospects are fair that the evidence to be presented by Mr Ocampo might not be solid enough to secure conviction.
Out in the bush living off the blood of innocents in the bush, Joseph Kony can afford to defy the ICC. President Bashir of Sudan can also afford to be belligerent, at least for now when he still has undivided support of his government.
I doubt whether the six would want to win the status of international pariahs in the search for political martyrdom; not when they are still gunning for leadership in Kenya and keen to retain a modicum of respectability.
And of course they have all those global investments they could not properly safeguard if reduced to fugitives forever looking over their shoulders for bounty hunters.
So perhaps they might tell one Mr Matsanga to take a walk, along with all the other mercantile consultants, sycophants and praise-singers who have worked so hard to lead them into Mr Ocampo’s clutches.
mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com
Yet despite all the bluff and bluster we are witnessing on the political platform and misguided diplomatic junkets, it is apparent that time is running out.
Unless they opt to defy the summonses issued by the International Criminal Court, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr William Ruto, Mr Henry Kosgey, Mr Francis Muthaura, Mr Hussein Ali and Mr Joshua Sang will in just over a fortnight be standing in the dock at The Hague fighting off charges of crimes against humanity.
In the remaining time, they might ponder what went wrong and to what extent their own missteps led to the current situation.
They might want to look at the sort of strategists and advisors they surrounded themselves with. They could do no worse than to start with the role being claimed by one ‘Dr’ David Matsanga, a former spokesman for murderous Joseph Kony, leader of Uganda infamous Lord’s Resistance Army.
Fresh from speaking for a fugitive wanted at The Hague for the most horrendous crimes against humanity, Mr Matsanga has become a frequent fixture on Kenyan media, claiming to speak for the Ocampo Six. He is even publicly advising his “clients” against honouring the ICC summonses because of the risk that they might be arrested.
When I mentioned to some colleagues from neighbouring Uganda that one of their illustrious sons had been contracted by the Kenya Government and/or the Ocampo Six to provide strategic and PR advice, the guffaws could be heard from Kampala to Nairobi.
Clearly, Mr Matsanga’s own countrymen are far from impressed with the credentials of the self-proclaimed expert on conflict resolution.
They offer plenty of tales on the man’s history of strange escapades in the Uganda political arena, coupled with extravagant claims on his qualifications and experience in both local and international affairs.
Woe betide the Ocampo Six if they heed asinine advice from a dodgy character and defy ICC summonses.
Defiance might seem like an attractive proposition. The ICC has no police force of its own to arrest anyone, and the Kenya Government and its security agencies are at present unlikely to act on any warrants that might be issued.
It might also seem like an attractive option for those who want to throw caution to the winds and work towards reaping maximum political capital from the charges put forth by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
I saw somewhere a write-up on Uhuru Kenyatta, drawing parallels with his father, Jomo Kenyatta, who was imprisoned by the British colonialists and then came out to triumphantly to lead the country to independence.
The writer seemed unsure, however, whether Mzee was jailed on trumped-up charges, or whether he really was the leader of the Mau Mau as charged.
I can bet someone else has already been commissioned to work on a piece comparing William Ruto Samoei with the legendary Koitalel arap Samoei, who at the turn of the last century, led the Nandi resistance against colonial rule.
However, I doubt at this stage whether it would be wise for anyone to turn himself into an international fugitive. This is especially so when prospects are fair that the evidence to be presented by Mr Ocampo might not be solid enough to secure conviction.
Out in the bush living off the blood of innocents in the bush, Joseph Kony can afford to defy the ICC. President Bashir of Sudan can also afford to be belligerent, at least for now when he still has undivided support of his government.
I doubt whether the six would want to win the status of international pariahs in the search for political martyrdom; not when they are still gunning for leadership in Kenya and keen to retain a modicum of respectability.
And of course they have all those global investments they could not properly safeguard if reduced to fugitives forever looking over their shoulders for bounty hunters.
So perhaps they might tell one Mr Matsanga to take a walk, along with all the other mercantile consultants, sycophants and praise-singers who have worked so hard to lead them into Mr Ocampo’s clutches.
mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com
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