Monday, March 19, 2012

Raila denies role in ICC cases


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Prime minister Raila Odinga addresses students and tutors at Murang'a Teachers Training College moments before meeting ODM delegates from Central region on 19th March, 2012. PHOTO / SAMUEL KARANJA
Prime minister Raila Odinga addresses students and tutors at Murang'a Teachers Training College moments before meeting ODM delegates from Central region on 19th March, 2012. PHOTO / SAMUEL KARANJA  
By SAMUEL KARANJA samkache@gmail.com
Posted  Monday, March 19  2012 at  17:55
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday took his presidential campaigns to Central Kenya, where he rebutted accusations of being behind the indictment of four Kenyans by the International Criminal Court.

Mr Odinga, while speaking when he met over 1700 ODM delegates from the region, at the same allayed fears that he was hostile towards the Kikuyu community.
The PM denied allegations that he had assisted The Hague based court to charge Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang and former head of Civil service Ambassador Francis Muthaura.
He said he had no ill feelings against the suspects, adding that they should go before the court and clear their names.
“I was not involved in whichever way in naming the suspects. Let them go before the court and clear their names then come back as free men,” he said while addressing the party delegates at Murang’a Teachers College.
Mr Odinga said those against the Hague process had opposed the formation of a local tribunal to try perpetrators of the post-election violence locally.
He said the suspects should not blame anyone for their predicament as they vouched for the international court by insisting "don’t be vague let's go to the Hague".
“The Ocampo six envelop was handed over to the ICC chief prosecutor Moreno Ocampo by the Phillip Waki commission not me,” said the ODM party leader.
He said he would not revenge against the Kikuyu community should he win the presidency.
He said those spreading reports that he was opposed to the community and their businesses were doing so out of malice.
“Those saying that I will seize the Kikuyu community property and business ventures are just spreading baseless propaganda,” he said.
“Raila Odinga has no problems with the Kikuyus as they never took him to jail nor have they ever hurt him in any way,” he added.
He said he was not afraid of competing with other presidential candidates eyeing to succeed President Mwai Kibaki.
The delegates, drawn from Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kiambu and Nyandarua counties, promised to back the Premier for the party’s presidential ticket.
Mr Odinga also welcomed the move by the deputy party leader Musalia Mudavadi to compete with him for the party’s presidential 
He said every ODM member is free to run for any seat in the party. 

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