Anxiety grips region ahead of ICC ruling

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Photo/FILE A residence is seen burning during post-election violence in the Rift Valley provincial capital Nakuru in 2008.  

By SIMON SIELE ssiele@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, December 28  2011 at  19:35

Anxiety has gripped various violence hotspots in Rift Valley Province ahead of the ruling by International Criminal Court on charges against six Kenyans. (READ: Ocampo Six to know fate on same date)

Kenyan security committees have conducted surveillance to determine the impact of the ruling on whether cases against the six — Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, MPs William Ruto (Eldoret North) and Henry Kosgey (Tinderet), journalist Joshua Sang, post-master-general Hussein Ali and head of Public Service, Francis Muthaura — would proceed to trial.

Intelligence reports indicate that residents in areas under surveillance had wrongly analysed the ICC process on political grounds.

“Some communities feel that the ICC process is meant to settle political scores because some of the suspects have presidential ambitions.

“The people feel that should the aspirants be locked out of the race by The Hague verdict, their communities would be isolated during the 2012 General Election,” a statement from an organisation conducting civic education on the ICC process said.

Genesis Arts Creations (GAC) and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) plan to train more than 2,000 youth and community members on the court processes by January 15.

“Our training includes the ICC process, peace building, conflict management, devolved governance and understanding the Constitution to more than 800 people.

“We have held up to 10 dialogue sessions and sporting events at the grassroots in Nakuru, Rongai and Njoro districts,” GAC chief executive officer Daniel Njuki said at a function in Nakuru.

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Last week, NCCK brought together more than 31 organisations in the region to review the year and plan for more integrated efforts towards sustainable peace.

“A major cultural festival early next year in Rongai and Nakuru will bring over 1,000 residents together to promote ethnic integration through understanding of different cultural values,” Mr Njuki said.