Six warned against spurring ethnic animosity

By Ally JamahLeaders of Civil Society groups have warned politicians facing charges at the ICC against whipping up ethnic emotions.
They urged the six to instead take personal responsibility for their situation.
This comes as Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto are slated for a major "homecoming rally" today at Uhuru Park in Nairobi after attending their first date with the ICC.

Sheikh Ahmed Ramadan of Jukwaa la Katiba at the 680 Hotel in Nairobi, yesterday. They said the ICC process was the best for Kenya for purposes of ending impunity. [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD]

"Kenya is not on trial. It was on trial during the end of 2007 and early 2008, and the case is yet to be laid to rest. We urge the leaders to stop raising passions and whipping up ethnic emotions just because they are faced with personal challenges," said Maurice Odhiambo of the National Civil Society Congress, yesterday.
Speaking under the Jukwaa La Katiba banner at the 680 Hotel in Nairobi, the activists said some of the suspects are trying to make it look like their respective communities are on trial as a strategy to win sympathy and support against their legal challenges.
"In their frequent public rallies, we have seen politicians try to cast their personal problems as those of their whole communities. They also blame leaders of other communities for their woes. This is unfair, as it divides the country," said Simekha Joseph.
Odhiambo claimed the ICC circus had distracted national attention from the implementation of the Constitution, causing it to slow down significantly.
Energies, resources"We are concerned about the amount of energies and resources being directed towards the Ocampo Six, knowing that Kenya has far much bigger and urgent issues of national importance," he said.
Prof Kavetsa Adagala said attention should not be on the Ocampo Six, but the thousands of Kenyans who lost their lives and property in the 2008 post-election violence.
"We support the recent emphasis on the Chair of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission Mzalendo Kibunja on healing and reconciliation. There is no need to turn suspects into heroes," she said.
Benjamin Ndolo said the ICC suspects wanted to pose as victims of political machinations, but insisted they should wait for the court to determine their fate.
"The ICC route was chosen by our political leaders when they voted against the establishment of a local tribunal as per the Waki Commission’s recommendation," he said.
The activists called on political leaders to focus on the implementation of the Constitution to help the country overcome the history of impunity to prevent a relapse of the dark chapter of post-election violence.