KBC News

Written By:KBC Reporters,    Posted: Wed, Mar 23, 2011

Legislators on Wednesday began debate on Tuesday's presidential speech, centering on the need to quit politicking and fast track the implementation of the new constitution. However, debate in parliament was largely dominated by talk on the fate of the Ocampo 6 with several MPs questioning the rationale behind the push for a deferral of the cases saying what Kenya should be exploring was a way to convince the ICC for a referral. The MPs said there was no clear plan on what would follow if the one-year deferral was granted. They said the country was greater than the Ocampo six and emphasis should be on alleviating the suffering of the 40 million plus Kenyans currently facing massive inflation among other challenges instead of pouring millions into fruitless shuttle missions The ICC has issued summonses for six individual alleged to bear the greatest responsibility in the chaos following the disputed results of the 2007 general election. The six include head of civil service Francis Muthaura, deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former police commissioner Major General Hussein Ali, former cabinet ministers Henry Kosgey and William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka defended the government's efforts to have the six suspects tried through a local judicial mechanism. Musyoka said it was in the nation's interest for the MPs to expedite the implementation of crucial laws that will guide the reform agenda not just in the judiciary but in other sectors ahead of the 2012 general elections. Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Njeru Githae supported the creation of a local mechanism to try the suspects and lashed out at politicians pushing for The Hague trial accusing them of playing to the gallery to the detriment of Kenya's sovereignty. Githae at the same time called on MPs to tone down on political rhetoric and pass the crucial laws in good time. In her contribution, Gichugu MP Martha Karua called for speedy implementation of the new constitution expressing reservations on the manner in which the government was dealing with the issue of the Ocampo six. Karua said debate on the Ocampo six was in total disregard of the plight of the internally displaced persons who continue to languish in IDP camps awaiting justice. Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh pointed out that the ODM party was keen on a referral of the cases to guarantee justice for both the victims and suspects of the 2008 post poll debacle. Shebesh said with reforms underway it would be crucial to have a local process that meets international standards to guarantee fairness in executing justice for the suspects and victims.  However, faulting the presidential speech Garsen MP Danson Mungatana said it failed to address the critical issue of rising inflation that is currently affecting the common mwananchi. He decried what he says was unequal distribution of funds to develop marginalized areas and called on Kenyans to be vigilant and push for speedy enactment of the equalization fund to promote uniform development in the country. Public Health Minister and Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo supported a local trial for the Ocampo Six and called for a deferral of the cases to allow Kenya time to put in place the necessary legal framework to try the suspects on Kenyan soil. MPs who supported local trial for the suspected masterminds of the 2007-2008 post election violence said the trials were a national issue that needs consensus on how to deal with it. They argued that shuttle diplomacy was a waste of resources and the best way to go is to urgently establish a local tribunal before seeking a referral of the Ocampo six cases.  They appealed to their colleagues to put aside their political differences and work for the common course of ending impunity and implementing the new constitution to the letter. Debate on the presidential speech will continue until Thursday as the standing orders stipulate that parliament must take three days to debate the president address. This marks the last time parliament will be debating such a speech as the new constitution now grants parliament autonomy.