President Uhuru Kenyatta reacts to ICPC threat to challenge petition against Safaricom, Airtel

Updated Tuesday, July 30th 2013 at 20:16 GMT +3

President Uhuru Kenyatta wants International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) Executive Director Ndung’u Wainaina to stop interfering with petitions against Safaricom and Airtel filed at the High Court.

ICPC had threatened to take legal action to challenge the proceedings and outcome of the petition filed by Uhuru Kenyatta at the High Court in order to protect public interest and victims’ rights to access information and participation in administration of justice.

Here is the President’s response:

The petitions, against Safaricom and Airtel, touch on the cases at the ICC and were filed by President Kenyatta’s lawyers.

The cases against President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto at the ICC have not been heard and determined. But as always those who pretend to campaign for the rule of law appear to go against the very law as well as the rule of natural justice where one is presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Attempts by Wainaina and others of his ilk to pass judgment in the public court is unacceptable. They must await the court decision in the matter.

The President and Deputy President have a right to use all available legal avenues to prepare their defense adequately before commencement of the ICChearings.

The constitutional petition filed in the High Court of Kenya by President Kenyatta’s lawyers is part of such preparation and the judge who heard the petitions in camera was within the law. Am sure Ndung’u wainaina would want a sound defence if he were charged for any offence.

The President, Deputy President and any other Kenyan facing the ICC or any other court have equal rights to a fair and should be spared partisan analysis from self-proclaimed experts.

Kenya and the international community are waiting for the truth about the 2007/2008 post-election violence and hope some light would be shed from the ICC process.

-PSCU