Saturday, January 21, 2012

PNU: Cabinet has no power to decide fate of presidential aspirants

By ISAAC ONGIRI A section of MPs and officials from the Party of National Unity (PNU) said the Cabinet had no powers to decide the political fate of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto. Instead the leaders said that the law should be allowed to prevail in determining the suitability of the two to run for president. Friday, The Standard On Saturday established that members of a Cabinet sub-committee on the International Criminal Court have been put on standby for a crisis meeting shortly after the release of the verdict on the confirmation cases on Monday. "Yes, there is a notice for a crisis meeting any time the verdict is made so we can guide the Cabinet and the Government on certain issues," said a source from the AG’s chambers. Belgut MP Charles Keter, Subukia MP Nelson Gaichuhie and PNU Organising Secretary Maina Kamanda accused Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo of preempting the fate of the two politicians facing a critical political moment by making alarming statements over their fate. "The committee of ministers Mutula is talking about is infested with individuals with well known vested political interests; how can they be expected to make a fair judgement," Keter wondered. Friday, Mutula was reported to have said the Cabinet team would decide whether the two should run for elections if their cases are confirmed. Keter said due process should be employed in the matter, warning cheeky political outbursts should be avoided," Keter said. Gaichuhie singled out George Saitoti who is the chairman of the committee as an interested party already on campaign to challenge the two for president. He added Prof Saitoti cannot chair a meeting to decide the fate of the two ICC suspects. "Saitoti is a presidential aspirant, James Orengo, Otieno Kajwang’, and Amason Kingi are working for the Prime Minister. Mutula is working for the Vice-President. The other member Moses Wetangula is also a presidential aspirant. They cannot decide Uhuru’s fate," Gaichuhie said. He said the law will decide whether the two are innocent and therefore should not be treated as criminals before they are proved guilty.

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