By SAMUEL KOECH skkoech@ke.nationmedia.com and TOM MATOKE tmatoke@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, January 4 2012 at 22:00
Posted Wednesday, January 4 2012 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- Leaders hold prayer rallies but opinion on the impact of the decision is divided
Anxiety has gripped the North Rift ahead of a decision by the International Criminal Court on whether to confirm charges against six Kenyans accused of masterminding the 2008 post election violence.
Three of the accused are from the North Rift and the anticipated decision has elicited mixed reactions from the region.
They are Mr William Ruto (Eldoret North MP), Mr Henry Kosgey (Tinderet MP) and Kass FM radio journalist Joshua arap Sang.
Others facing crimes against humanity charges are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali.
The ICC will rule on whether the three have a case to answer by January 19.
Some residents feel that confirming the charges will fuel conflict especially since this is an election year.
However, victims of the 2008 election violence are split on the consequences of the decision.
“I don’t care. All I want is peace. Times are hard and I am not ready for a replica of the 2008 violence,” said Mr Gilbert Kosgei, a businessman in Eldoret town.
Mr Stephen Gathuo, the chairman of internally displaced persons at Yamumbi in Eldoret said that confirmation of the charges would hamper peace and reconciliation efforts.
“We pray that the six come back home so that we can form a local tribunal,” said Mr Gathuo.
An internally displaced person who was uprooted from her home in Naivasha, however, wants the ICC to confirm the charges.
Shoddy investigations
“Those of us who are struggling to restructure our lives in tents will at least be assured that justice has been done,” said the victim requesting anonymity for fear of reprisals.
In Nandi County, where Mr Kosgey comes from, leaders have been rallying the community to pray for the six suspects.
County council chairman Joel Marel accused the ICC prosecutor of conducting shoddy investigations.
Mosop legislator David Koech and his Emgwen counterpart Elijah Lagat have been using public forums to criticise ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo for conducting sloppy investigations and calling the charges a fabrication.
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