By OLIVER MUSEMBI osembi@gmail.com
Posted Saturday, January 28 2012 at 22:32
Posted Saturday, January 28 2012 at 22:32
A defiant Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday said he would not resign over the charges of crimes against humanity that he faces at the International Criminal Court.
Speaking during a public meeting at the Ruiru stadium in his Kiambu county backyard, Mr Kenyatta said he would only relinquish the post if Parliament decides his fate through a motion.
“I will not step down as deputy prime minister unless a motion of no confidence is taken to Parliament and MPs approve it. The law must be followed,” he said amid applause from the large crowd attending the event.
The prayer meeting was organised for the four Kenyans whose charges were last week committed to full trial at The Hague-based court.
Mr Kenyatta was accompanied by more than 50 MPs at the meeting.
Also present was Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang ,with whom Mr Kenyatta has been indicted by the ICC over the post-election violence.
The other is Mr Francis Muthaura, who resigned as head of the public service last Thursday.
Mr Kenyatta stepped aside as Finance minister but retained his position in government as deputy PM. He said Kenya must be governed by the rule of law and “not by civil society from hotels.”
There has been mounting pressure for the Gatundu South MP, also a presidential contender ,to relinquish his current post even after he resigned as Finance minister.
Appealed against ruling
He disclosed that he had appealed against the ruling of ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II and he would not, therefore, discuss the matter further.
He said he and Mr Muthaura would have left office on Monday, but President Kibaki was away in Uganda and they had to wait until he returned.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka warned that the grand coalition would collapse if Mr Kenyatta was to bow to pressure and quit the deputy PM’s post.
“I urge him to stand firm because the coalition government, as it is constituted, cannot stand if he were to step aside,” the Vice-President said.
But Mr Musyoka did not elaborate on the legal provisions that he was referring to.
But Mr Musyoka did not elaborate on the legal provisions that he was referring to.
A similar view was expressed by acting Finance minister Robinson Githae and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa who said the two DPM positions and that of Prime Minister were protected under the National Accord.
“If any one of them resigns, then the coalition crumbles,” Mr Githae said.
The VP differed with Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo on his stand that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto should not run for the presidency.
“There is no provision under the Constitution or otherwise that bars the two from contesting the presidency.
“The law respects their human rights, including the right to run for any elective position,” he said.
At the same time, Mr Musyoka warned against attempts to maligning President Kibaki through claims that he had met with Mungiki members at the height of the post-election violence.
He said Kenya deserved respect as a state party to the Rome Statute. He also took issue with a campaign to brand him as a selfish person out to gain from the woes of his political allies, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto.
“Those who want to portray me as an opportunist are themselves insincere and satanic,” the VP said.
“Those who want to portray me as an opportunist are themselves insincere and satanic,” the VP said.
The three leaders reiterated their resolve to remain united and front one of them as the flag bearer in the next elections.
Mr Kenyatta said he was free to go across the country and hunt for votes now that he has relinquished the Cabinet portfolio.
Mr Ruto said those who are opposed to their presidential ambitions were hypocritical as they did not demand they resign as MPs.“Those who thought they were punishing me have now handed me a chance to go all over campaigning,” he said.
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