State told to rescind deal on piracy trials

• MPs say Kenya has nothing to benefit from agreements

A parliamentary committee wants the government to renegotiate all the agreements it signed with foreign countries allowing trials of suspected pirates on Kenyan soil.

The House team on Defence and Foreign Relations on Tuesday resolved that Kenya must cancel the agreements and hold fresh talks with the international community to take care of its interests.

In a meeting with Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula, the MPs wanted to know how Kenya got itself in the current situation.

Top among questions put to the minister and other senior government officials were whether the agreements had Cabinet support and what benefits Kenya derived from allowing the trials locally.

The committee said the agreements did not serve Kenya’s interests.

The country has signed about six agreements with China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands to allow for piracy suspects to be tried locally.

Kenya has also signed an agreement with the Federal Transitional Government of Somalia.

Closed doors

The meeting at Continental House was held behind closed doors as discussions touched on matters of national security.

Recent reports indicate that 111 pirates have been arrested in the high seas and are being held in Kenya.

At least 10 have been tried and convicted of piracy while the rest are still being tried in Mombasa.