News
Kenyan MPs vow to push for Hague trials
Posted Sunday, August 2 2009 at 22:31
Kenyan MPs want suspected masterminds of the post-election violence tried at the Hague. They have vowed to reject any amendments to the law setting up the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission to ensure it deals with impunity.
The MPs, who included assistant ministers Orwa Ojode and Richard Onyonka, spoke as four ministers said the only alternative left was for the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to take over the poll chaos cases.
“If they do not convince MPs that nobody will be spared, and that all those involved will face the full force of the law, we will not support them,” said Mr Ojode. Added Mr Onyonka: “I will not vote for any amendment that does not punish criminal responsibility.”
Elsewhere, Gichugu MP Martha Karua said the government should quit, accusing President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of failing victims of historical injustices.
“The two are dishonourable people and this government needs to be thrown out at the earliest opportunity. They signed the accord but have now turned around to call for reconciliation,” she said.
Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi also warned that MPs would only support a mechanism that punishes impunity. “We have always said we want criminal accountability... that is why we support ICC,” he said.
Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro and Wajir West’s Adan Keynan also stated that Parliament would go for nothing short of the Hague option.
“Justice can only be achieved if we punish impunity,” added Mr Ethuro. But MPs Simon Mbugua (Kamukunji) and Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu) said Kenya risked opening old wounds if it chose the Hague option.
“We must forgive and forget; we cannot live in the past,” said Mr Mbugua. And, Nominated MP George Nyamweya said the nation was free to pursue any of the four options to heal the country and punish impunity.
At separate functions, Ministers Moses Wetang’ula, James Orengo, Noah Wekesa and Joseph Nyagah said they had opened the door for the ICC to prosecute the suspects.
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Submitted by livingstonewerePosted September 03, 2009 03:56 PM
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Submitted by simondondi
Only Fools would think that The Hague would leave the country united and peaceful. Those MPS are like Monkeys carrying tanks of petrol complete with loaded guns plus mortarsa and bombs while smoking cigerates or opium. There is something really hidden in this mad obsession with Hague and they they are not telling what they are up to. How come nobody from Somalia is going to Hague or is it better for a full scale war??
Posted August 03, 2009 10:23 AM -
Submitted by nickihiu
if not hague let all those in kenyan prisons be freed and all prisons closed!! prisons in kenya are for the poor and powerless.
Posted August 03, 2009 09:21 AM -
Submitted by mworiamwenda
I congratulate those MPs whose the Hague option as the only option and assure them that majority of Kenyans are behind them.
Posted August 03, 2009 09:00 AM -
Submitted by thesage
Please let us open old wounds and treat them thoroughly. If we fail to treat them and they remain festering underneath, we may have to perform amputations later. Let us seize this opportunity to nip impunity in the bud now that most of us agree it threatens us all.
Posted August 03, 2009 03:00 AM
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Kenyan leaders, you really need to be seriouse. Do you really remember what happened immediately after 2007 presidential elections? So many people lost their lives, others lost their loved ones and others lost their property, other people still in the camps up to date. To actually prevent all these not to happen again, the key suspects should be prosecuted in the ICC. I do not support formation of a local tribunal.