Rebel MPs laud party ‘change of heart’

By Peter Mutai and Mary Njoki.ODM rebel MPs led by suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto have welcomed the move by the party to have the ‘Ocampo Six’ tried in Kenya if a credible local tribunal is established.
Ruto, who spoke in the presence of President Kibaki, said the ODM position was welcome, as it would allow the country to handle the cases facing the six suspects, including him fast.
"Now it seems everybody is reading from the same script as all partners in the ruling Grand Coalition Government have agreed that we need a solution good for the victims of post- election violence, and is fair and just for the six suspects," said the suspended minister.
The Eldoret North MP was Speaking at Kenya Highlands Evangelical University sports ground in Kericho during the official granting of a charter by President Kibaki.
National unity
However, the President steered clear of politics and the ICC matter, and only called for national unity to improve educational standards and development.
More than 19 MPs, among them two Cabinet ministers Franklin Bett (Roads) and acting Higher Education Minister Hellen Sambili, and MPs Beatrice Kones, Nderitu Mureithi, Kambi Kazungu, Charles Keter, Zakayo Cheruiyot, and Julius Kones, attended.
Other legislators present were Benjamin Langat, George Nyamweya, John Muthutho, Isaac Ruto, Joyce Laboso, Maison Leshoma, Joshua Kutuny, David Koech, John Gitari, and Jeremiah Kioni.
They said the country has mechanisms to handle ICC cases locally, and pointed out it would not augur well for the country to be mortgaged to the international community.
"We support shuttle diplomacy and the push by the President to have the United Nations Security Council defer or refer the ICC cases. But some politicians are pulling you back," Kioni said.
World powers and a section of the UN Security Council have since rejected Kenya’s request to have the ICC cases deferred for one year.
At an informal meeting held last week on the deferral request, the request appeared to have hit a dead end after members of the council failed to agree on the matter.