Focus less on ICC Six: Karua

Narc-Kenya chairperson Martha Karua addresses a meeting at the party headquarters in Nairobi on March 17, 2011. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI  

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Thursday, March 17 2011 at 22:10

The resettlement of the displaced should be top priority instead of focusing on The Hague Six, Narc Kenya chairperson Martha Karua has said.

Ms Karua said it was wrong for all attention to be paid on the six Kenyans summoned to The Hague to answer charges over their alleged role in the violence that erupted after the December 2007 General Election.

The six are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, Public Service boss Francis Muthaura, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.

“Thousands of people lost their lives during the violence while others were injured and many more left homeless,” said Ms Karua.

“Focus should be on resettling the displaced people and their concerns should be addressed.”

The party leader said most leaders had opposed the prosecution of those suspected of participating in the post-poll chaos in a local tribunal but were now demanding it.

“I tried convincing them to take up the local tribunal but they were against it,” she said while addressing party members at the Narc-K headquarters in Nairobi,

Ms Karua condemned the arrest of some displaced people at the weekend during a demonstration over their poor living conditions.

The new Constitution, she said, protects the rights of Kenyans, including the right to assemble.