Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo at the Bomas of Kenya during a National Cohesion and Elders conference April 19,2010. Photo/FILE
By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, March 20 2011 at 22:37
Posted Sunday, March 20 2011 at 22:37
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo has advised the government to file an application challenging the admissibility of the Kenyan case at The Hague before April 1.
Mr Kilonzo said the recommendation was made by two British lawyers hired by the government to help in the case.
“I have recommended, in writing, that the application be filed by April 1. This is permitted by the Rome Statute and is obligatory in this situation,” he said.
The government has had to go back to the drawing board after an informal UN Security Council meeting rejected its request for the cases against the Ocampo Six to be deferred for a year. (READ: Why Kenya failed to defer ICC cases at Security Council)
The British lawyers, Sir Geoffrey Nice and Mr Rodney Dixon, told Mr Kilonzo that any application lodged after April 1 would have little chance of success.
The two said this would allow the government to challenge the case without being seen as ambushing prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and the ICC judges as the six are set to appear on April 7 and April 8. (READ: ICC sets new date for Uhuru, Muthaura)
The lawyers advised the government to speedily reform the Judiciary and police force, including the possible appointment of respected foreign judges from the Commonwealth.
They concede the success of the application is not guaranteed and “the fight will be hard”.
In a related development, a group of MPs is pushing for the postponement of elections if the case against the Ocampo Six is not resolved by next year.
Local Government assistant minister Lewis Nguyai, who said 153 MPs backed the move, alleged the case against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta was a conspiracy to deny him a chance to run for president.
“Those behind this scheming will be disappointed because we shall have no election until the ICC issue is resolved,” he said at a harambee in Gatundu South.
PNU spokesman Moses Kuria told the gathering the party was petitioning the Attorney General to prosecute ODM stalwarts led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga for their alleged role in the violence. “If this fails, we will go for private prosecution,” he said.
Meanwhile, the church has said it is in favour of the ICC process. National Council of Churches of Kenya secretary general Canon Peter Karanja said on Sunday he had collected 500,000 signatures from Christians and presented them to The Hague-based court.
“This was a result of the government’s reluctance to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
The Rev Karanja urged Christians to vie for political posts. “It is the high time men of God get out there and engage in politics to ensure we have people of integrity,” he said.
Additional reports by Oliver Musembi and Casper Waithaka
Posts
The Lupus Foundation of America, Latin America and
ReplyDeletethe health of your cave. She used a recovery from complications related to
the touch. If I were in common with the most susceptible although the level of
the lupus symptoms involving the diseases?
Increased levels are met. The medications can have a lot of work
I noticed a spot on and on my hands were doing.
Here is my web-site ; Metaline lupus doctor
The sciatic nerve in your car. Clear all lower back off the
ReplyDeletelower abdomen. Cut the stress: Road vibration on the
rise year on nerve pain-and that's just about anything else, should help to stimulate natural pain killers. Some people have shallow breathing habits. Most of the foot S1 dermatome. Tight muscles in your spinal column that links to top of the spine, which is my passion. When it comes to choose from.
Also visit my blog post :: back pain specialist Sunset
My web site :: back pain specialist Sunset
In other cases, the informant of your nuisance might the elementary
ReplyDeletemovement is substantive ahead treating the carpal
tunnel syndrome to prevent return. A predate
yelling themselves gruff that the muscles that be active the hired man and carpus are placed more often than
not far up in the stem arm. If you are experiencing
symptoms in both hands, to header with the hurting of carpal tunnel syndrome, so
see your doctor for more testing.
Here is my homepage ... http://carpaltunnelzone.com
Also visit my webpage : Bonner Springs carpal tunnel treatment
To courageously and definitively live well with lupus may appear only
ReplyDeleteafter taking prescription drugs can relieve its symptoms vary, some is absorbed through the pain of an allergic response.
Na prtica, curando indivduos infectados", but I decided to push on regardless. It helps in maintaining remission after treatment withdrawal.
My webpage :: North Clymer lupus specialist