MPs: ICC's handling of suspects okay

Dujis MP Aden Duale. MPs allied to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto have said they are satisfied with the manner in which the International Criminal Court handled three post election violence suspects April 7, 2011. FILE

MPs allied to Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto have said they are satisfied with the manner in which the International Criminal Court handled three post election violence suspects.

Addressing journalists at Parliament Buildings Thursday evening, MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), Aden Duale (Dujis) and Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri), Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany) and Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) expressed confidence that justice will be delivered at The Hague.

They described as ''professional’’ the manner in which the court handled Mr Ruto, his Tinderet counterpart Henry Kosgey and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.

Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, Mr Kenyatta and Postmaster General Hussein Ali are due to appear before the Pre-Trial Chamber Friday afternoon.

The MPs also announced that the planned rally to welcome the Ocampo Six from The Hague had been moved from Sunday to Monday at Nairobi's Uhuru Park following logistical problems in rescheduling the flights for the six Kenyans.

Mr Kiunjuri, the chair of the coordinating committee, said the meeting will start at 11am adding that it had been cleared by the Town Clerk Philip Kisia

Mr Kisia said Thursday evening he had given the all clear to the organisers to hold the meting.

Separately, the Central Kenya MPs association chairman Ephraim Maina and ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo pleaded with MPs to embark on a national reconciliation and healing effort to guard against ethnic hostilities and division.

Mr Maina asked MPs to ensure Parliament fast-tracks crucial reform bills key to establishment of a credible judiciary and police force by September.

The ICC judges set September 1 as the date when confirmation hearing of the Ocampo Six will start.

“We must now concentrate on enacting laws that will lead to creation of a tenable judicial mechanism and ensure it is in place by September when the Six return to the Hague. With this, the country will be able to argue for a deferral and transfer of the case home,’’ the Mathira MP said at a press conference in his Nairobi office.

Mr Midiwo said Kenyans must now begin to heal and reconcile through finding a credible mechanism similar to the one used in the post South Africa apartheid.