Raila to inform House on Ocampo visit

Parliament will on Wednesday next week know what the Kenya principals and the International Criminal Court Prosecutor discussed during the latter's recent visit.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he will do so during Question Time.

Ikolomani MP Dr Boni Khalwale asked the PM to explain the specific matters that were discussed at the two-hour meeting on Thursday last week and what position the government presented to Louis Moreno Ocampo.

He also sought to know whether any concrete decisions were made during the meeting at President Kibaki's Harambee House office and what Mr Moreno Ocampo told the two principals.

He also wanted the Prime Minister to confirm that upon their indictment, senior government officials would be willing to ‘forfeit their positions of influence and power.’

“Is the government indeed willing and ready to hand over suspects if given the request by Mr Ocampo?” asked the Ikolomani legislator.

The PM, however, objected to the manner of Dr Khalwale’s request, saying he would be ready to address the matter during his normal Question Time at 3 p.m on Wednesday, but that the MP should make his request by writing to his office.

Dr Khalwal said the request had been made to the PM’s office but the Clerk had asked him to raise the matter on the floor of the House.

Reports after the meeting last week said the principals had declined to refer Kenya’s case to the ICC, following which Mr Ocampo said he will take up the cases as early as December.

Mr Ocampo will go before the judges to seek their approval to open an investigation on the key suspects and has since said he has a strong case against the powerful Kenyans implicated by reports and evidence in the ICC’s possession.

The query was made on the same day debate on a bill that seeks to establish a Special Tribunal to try those suspected of involvement in the violence was suspended due to the lack of quorum in Parliament.

The mover of the bill, Imenti Central’s Gitobu Imanyara, later accused the government of planning to sabotage debate on the bill by lobbying MPs not to attend debates. Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo denied the claims.

Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto sought to stir the situation a bit when he asked whether the PM and President Kibaki would be ready to give up their offices if they were indicted by the International Criminal Court.