ICC: MP alleges UK plot to detain Ruto, Uhuru

Written By:Lilian Mwendo,    Posted: Thu, Mar 08, 2012

Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim on Thursday evening stopped debate on a document presented before Parliament by Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo purporting a conspiracy by the British government to have presidential hopefuls Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto arrested once they visit the International Criminal Court. According to Kilonzo, the unsigned document also reveals a conspiracy by the UK to have President Mwai Kibaki indicted at The Hague once his term ends. The Speaker however ruled that for such a debate to proceed, a substantive motion should be presented to parliament three days before debate. But tabling the document that he claimed was obtained from the British government, the Yatta MP cited a conspiracy by the British Government to have Uhuru and Ruto arrested once they visited the ICC as the biggest mission that brought the UK's Foreign Secretary to Kenya. The house after the tabling of the document engaged in a heated debate with members protesting the speaker's ruling which bars members from discussing the conduct of a Head of State or any State officer of a friendly state. Legislators Bonny Khalwale, Harun Mwau, Nassir Nuh, Chalres Keter and Adan Duale led the onslaught demanding that Foreign Affairs Minister MosesWetangula states the government position in the wake of the revelations. While delivering a ministerial statement on UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague's visit to Kenya early last Month, Wetangula said the ICC issue and the eligibility of Uhuru  and Ruto to run for presidency were never discussed. In a quick rejoinder to media houses however, the British High Commission has termed the document tabled by Kilonzo as preposterous confirming that the British government was fully committed to the ICC process and respected the relationship it has with Kenya.