Germany roots for ICC trials

Kenya has been asked to work with the International Criminal Court to avoid a repeat of post-election violence.

Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel also urged President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to implement the Constitution and fight corruption.

In separate meetings with the two, Ms Merkel said German investors were keenly watching the country’s politics and added that their investments will only go to a stable and secure country.

“We are, however, happy that the new Constitution has offered Kenya a good opportunity for attracting more investments.

“We are also happy to note that its implementation is on track,” she said in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Electoral system

The violence, that erupted following the closely fought Presidential elections left 1,133 people dead and 650,000 others homeless.

Elections are due in August next year. Ms Merkel expressed Germany’s willingness to assist Kenya strengthen the country’s electoral system.

Ms Merkel said Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed, had helped steer the Constitution-making process admirably and that he had been earmarked for the German Africa Prize award.

Mr Abdikadir was formerly the chair of the parliamentary committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs. He currently chairs Parliament’s Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee.

“The government must, however, fight corruption. It should co-operate with the ICC while ensuring that elections are peaceful. We do not want to see violence,” she said.

The ICC has named six Kenyans as possible masterminds of the post-election violence.

They are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of the Public Service Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang.

Ms Merkel said she would back Kenya’s request to upgrade the United Nations Environment Programme and ensure that the location of its headquarters remain in Nairobi.

The German leader, who flew into the country on Monday evening, met President Kibaki at State House, where she inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Kenya Air Force.

This is her first visit to the country as Chancellor, having previously visited Kenya as her country’s minister for the Environment. She will also visit Angola and Nigeria.

After her meeting with the President, she proceeded to the InterContinental hotel, where she and Mr Odinga, witnessed the signing of two agreements for the establishment of a delegation of German Industry and Commerce and another for the support of research activities at the International Livestock Research Institute.

She later met House Speaker Kenneth Marende and then delivered a lecture at the University of Nairobi. She also visited ILRI offices and the United Nations Environmental Programme headquarters in Nairobi.

President Kibaki said the progress made so far included the passage of several laws crucial to the implementation process.

“The task of implementing the Constitution requires a lot of resources and manpower. We have underlined the importance of support from the German government in terms of finances and capacity building,” the President said.