Bett dismisses bid to have ICC cases put on hold

By PETER MUTAI

Roads Minister Franklin Bett has dismissed the push to collect five million signatures to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer the two Kenya cases.

Speaking during a prize-giving ceremony at Kipsigis Girls High School in Kericho County on Friday, Bett said the proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto allies will not yield anything.

The minister said the ICC could not be swayed by people signing up petitions. Delegates at recent Gema and Kamatusa meetings resolved to collect two and three million signatures to delay the cases.

Mess up cases

Bett cautioned the petitions could be used against the suspects.

"The signatures will mess up with the cases facing our sons at The Hague. The four will incriminate themselves by presenting signatures to ICC as it will be used to prove the charges facing them," he said.

Bett said the suspects have been charged with organising the violence, saying presentation of the proposed signatures to ICC could be interpreted to mean that indeed they are capable of rallying their communities behind a cause – good or bad.

Education PS James ole Kiyiapi was the chief guest at the function, whichparents and other education stakeholders from the region attended.

Bett at the same time took issue with calls by leaders who attended the Eldoret meeting to have Kenyan athletes boycott the London Olympic Games to protest the ICC cases against Ocampo Four suspects.

"Let us not mix politics with athletics. I am against those calling on our athletes not to participate in the London Olympics. We will be excited to see our athletes compete against the world in games," he added.