Kenyans 'guilty' of post poll violence, says Mudavadi

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has said the four Kenyans facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) should not carry the guilt of the entire country.

The DPM said all Kenyans were responsible for the violence and that if it was in his powers, he would set up local trials.

“We killed each other in 2008. Women were raped; children were molested. It would be cowardly to wish this away. We must accept responsibility collectively. The nation is guilty. To prosecute four people for the sins of 40 million people is therefore preposterous,” Mr Mudavadi said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former head of public service Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio presenter are due to stand trial at the ICC on April 4, 2013.

They stand accused of bearing the greatest responsibility for the violence that left 1,133 people dead and 650,000 others uprooted from their homes.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are among those gunning for the presidency in next year’s elections.

On Tuesday, Mr Mudavadi said the four carry the country’s “national shame, but they must not carry our national guilt".

He also said that Kenyans must all own up to their faults that caused the chaos before the country enters the 2013 electoral season.

Mr Mudavadi, who arrived in the country on Tuesday after a tour of the US and the UK, said that he was among those who supported local trials over the post-election violence.

“I still hold this view because no civilised society can allow their own to be tried in foreign jurisdictions. If it were in my powers, I would bring the ICC trials home as part of shouldering the guilt. Admission of national guilt is the first step to our national redemption,” Mr Mudavadi said.

No quick solution to IDP problem

The DPM also said that it was a national shame that the country still had some of its citizens in camps, five years after the violence. He added that though there was no "quick solution" to the IDP problem, it was important that the country addresses the issue before the elections.

“This is why we must all commit that no Kenyan will sleep hungry or insecure because of the national madness of 2008. Land justice for the IDPs is urgent. Justice for their other loses must also be given. And we must give it with speed,” Mr Mudavadi said.

The Sabatia MP said the ICC trials will not address the root causes of the culture of community and election-related violence.  He added that it had even become a hindrance to police operations in situations of violence like Tana River and when terrorists attack Kenyans. 

“We cannot watch as evil people massacre others and police watch helplessly out of fear of being accused of targeting a given community. This is not good in the fight against terror and for the coming election,” Mr Mudavadi said.

The DPM said that he will sponsor a bill in Parliament to deal with such perpetrators decisively and to empower the police in maintaining order humanely, but firmly in exceptional circumstances of terror attacks.

“I am persuaded that there are national issues we need to deal with exhaustively rather than wishing them away. We have buried heavy matters alive, and they are kicking from underneath violently,” Mr Mudavadi said.