Ministers warn against tribal card

By Peter Mutai

Four ministers from Rift Valley aligned to Prime Minister Raila Odinga have appealed to the four suspects indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) not to politicise the cases.

The ministers, while pledging to stand by the four, urged them to approach the crime against humanity charges through a legal process.

Sally Kosgei (Agriculture), Franklin Bett (Roads), Margaret Kamar (Higher Education) and Home Affairs Assistant Minister Beatrice Kones cautioned the suspects against rallying their tribes behind them.

Dr Kosgei said going by the unsuccessful shuttle diplomacy to convince the UN Security Council to refer the cases to be prosecuted in Kenya, politicising the process will complicate the process further.

"We cannot approach the ICC cases facing four of our brothers with a siege mentality as it is wrong to tribalise the matter. We must work together as a team instead of using tribe to fight the ICC," Kosgei said.

The Aldai MP said calling on athletes from the Kalenjin community to boycott the upcoming London Olympics games in protest following the indictment of the four Kenyans will not help.

Speaking in Buret, Kericho County, during the ground breaking ceremony of the proposed Buret Technical Training Institute, Mr Bett appealed to the four suspects to embark on serious prayers devoid of politics.

justice

Also in attendance were MPs Joyce Laboso (Sotik) Charles Onyancha (Bonchari) and their Ainamoi counterpart Benjamin Langat.

Bett exuded confidence that justice will prevail and called on Kenyans to pray for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang.

On the Eldoret meetings, the MPs said they did not get a formal invitation from the organisers, but said that as a community, all leaders should be involved in fighting for issues touching on the cases facing Ruto and Sang.