Kalonzo winds up mission to seek deferral

By Athman Amran and Patrick MuriungiVice-President Kalonzo Musyoka continued with his shuttle diplomacy over the deferral of the case against the ‘Ocampo Six’ despite recent setbacks at the United Nations Security Council.
The Vice-President returned last evening after holding talks with presidents Ali Bongo and African Union Chairman Theodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
Kalonzo’s last-ditch effort followed attempts by Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Macharia Kamau to restart the process through the Security Council.
Kamau wrote to the Council President, Li Baodong, on Wednesday, explaining that Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM had agreed to handle the ICC case through a credible local judicial mechanism.
But a letter from ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o countered Kamau’s assertion.
It was not clear what options Kalonzo and the Government are still pushing for.
Kenya had earlier stated it would lobby African countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute to pull out of the ICC if its request for a deferral is rejected.
Nguema is the chair of the AU, while Gabon is Security Council member representing Africa.
"The purpose of this visit was to conclude my mission as President Kibaki’s special envoy on Kenya’s deferral request by briefing the two leaders," Mr Kalonzo said, yesterday.
He said it was important to brief the AU chair because Kenya has also presented to the Security Council the resolutions of the recent AU Heads of State and Government Summit held in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, endorsing Kenya’s request.
Need to support
The VP said Kenya has now to await the final position of the Council.
He said his hosts were categorical the Security Council and the international community need to support a local judicial mechanism to try perpetrators of post-election violence.
"They also argued that the International Criminal Court should only play its complementary role as a court of last resort," Kalonzo said.
He added: "As I conclude my mission, I note with satisfaction that others within the Coalition who were previously opposed to a local judicial process have now begun to show signs of support."
He said they welcomed them so they can together speed up establishment of a local process "to restore dignity and pride of our nation".
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and suspended Higher Education Minister, William Ruto, again blamed Prime Minister Raila Odinga for their plight.
They are innocent
Speaking in Meru, the duo accompanied by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi said they are innocent.
"Since 2008, we went to work until Raila became too much. Now we are doing politics and we will push him to the end," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
"How can the innocent be said to have committed crimes? We believe in the rule of law and will go to The Hague where the truth will come out," said Uhuru.
Ruto said the rape charges against Muthaura are preposterous, and meant to assassinate his character. He rejected the offer for legal aid from ODM.
Kiraitu said ODM had collapsed because PNU had received its Deputy Party leader William Ruto, Deputy Secretary General Mahmud Mohammed.
He said ODM chairman Henry Kosgey, who is also bound for ICC, had been abandoned by the party.
The minister also claimed that the ICC case is meant to eliminate opponents.
Speaking at Meru Bus Park on his way to Maua, Uhuru criticised Raila for insistence on foreign experts and wondered why he expected support for the presidency yet he had no faith in Kenyans.
Confidence in Kenyans
"How can he lead Kenya when he has no confidence in Kenyans? He wants a foreign Chief Justice, foreign Director of Public Prosecutions, foreign investigators. Everything foreign," Uhuru said.
The Gatundu South MP pleaded his innocence on allegations of complicity in post election violence.
"I have done no wrong and I must protest my inclusion in the Ocampo list," he said.
He recalled that in 2002, Kanu accepted defeat after Kibaki beat him in presidential elections and no violence broke out.
He claimed in 2007 Raila refused to accept defeat leading to the violence.