Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to address the nation on critical national issues at 5pm April 6, 2011. FILE
By NATION Reporter
Posted Wednesday, April 6 2011 at 17:07
Posted Wednesday, April 6 2011 at 17:07
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called on Kenyans to heal the wounds of the past and unite as a nation.
In an address to the nation delivered on the eve of the initial appearance before the ICC Pre-trial Chamber by the six prominent Kenyans accused of bearing the greatest responsibility for the violence, Mr Odinga asked Kenyans to embrace national healing and reconciliation following the tragic events that followed the 2007 elections.
“From the ICC, we expect nothing but justice for the victims and a fair process for the suspects,” he said.
He said the fact that the cases facing deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, Postmaster General Hussein Ali, Public Service head Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang were being handled by the ICC spoke volumes about the country’s failure to reform its judicial institutions.
Mr Odinga rubbished claims by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto that he was behind the cases facing them at The Hague saying Kenyans knew the truth.
“I have refrained from commenting on those claims because Kenyans know the truth and there is therefore no point belabouring the point,” the PM stated in response to the accusations made by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto at various prayer rallies held last weekend.
Mr Odinga asked Kenyans to hold prayers for those who perished during the post poll chaos or lost their loved ones starting Friday.
“Over this weekend beginning Friday, the people of Kenya will be saying prayers for all those who still grieve, for the children whose worlds were shattered, for parents who lost entire families for all who feel that their safety and security remain threatened,” he said.
'As a nation, let us reflect on the two months in which Kenya burnt, the trail of destruction and pain left behind and how we pulled together from the brink of disintegration of our Nation,” he added.
He maintained that Kenya still lacked credible mechanisms to try the post election violence cases locally but added that various laws were being enacted to reform the country’s institutions so that the lesser suspects of the violence could be held to account.
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Unless I hear Raila & Kibaki have gone hague, not on summonses by Ocampo but on arrest I will never be satisfied. Raila you always give crocodile tears which never last long b4 it's realized it's crocodile tears. May the Lord make ti happen by 2012 August both of you are picked to Hague.
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