By NATION REPORTER
Posted Monday, March 28 2011 at 22:00
Posted Monday, March 28 2011 at 22:00
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday defended himself against accusations that he was wasting public funds on his shuttle diplomacy mission to have the case against the Ocampo Six deferred.
Mr Musyoka said the barrage of attacks from his critics were unwarranted, insisting his diplomatic trips were for a just cause.
The VP vowed to continue with the mission of ensuring the six suspects were tried in the country even if it will jeopardise his presidential ambitions.
“The country’s respect and dignity are more important than personal gains. I will therefore stick to the government’s bid to try the suspects locally even if it means affecting my presidential chances,” he added.
Mr Musyoka noted that he could not have embarked on the mission without the government’s blessings.
He said Kenya was not a failed state like Somalia and that was why he had to venture out to seek support from global leaders on the quest for deferral of the trial of six Kenyans at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
International intervention
The local judicial system, he said, had the capacity to try the suspects. He was saddened by some political leaders “who had lost faith in the country’s public service and were calling for international interventions”.
“My foreign ventures were for the good of this country. Not at one time have I wasted public funds,” Mr Musyoka said.
“It was prudent for me and the government to seek support from leaders worldwide on the deferral of the trial in The Hague to save the country’s image,” he explained.
He said once a new Attorney-General is appointed and positions of Chief Justice and Director of Prosecutions are filled, the country will be capable of trying the six suspects.
The VP was speaking at Port Reitz in Mombasa on the sidelines of the launch of Mombasa Container Terminal, which was established by Bollore Africa Logistics at a cost of Sh700 million.
No comments:
Post a Comment