MPs throw weight behind Raila on ICC probe
A cabinet minister led a group of MPs on Saturday in defending Prime Minister Raila Odinga against accusations of manipulating the ICC probe into the post-election violence to eliminate potential rivals in the 2012 presidential contest.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang called on those under investigations by ICC prosecutor Moreno - Ocampo to focus on organizing their defence rather than shifting blame.
Kajwang called on Eldoret North MP William Ruto to stop dragging Mr Odinga's name into the investigations on the post-election violence.
“I want to remind Honourable Ruto that Raila is not an official of ICC, he (Raila) is not its investigator and neither is he Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Kenya and therefore he cannot arrest anybody,” he said.
Kajwang made the remarks at the burial of celebrated polygamist Asentus Akuku "Danger". He was accompanied by Lands Minister James Orengo, Assistant Ministers Orwa Ojode, Dr Oburu Oginga and Gwassi MP John Mbadi.
Mbadi noted that Raila had supported the setting up of a local tribunal to lead investigations into the post-election violence, but such an approach had been rejected by supporters of an ICC- led process.
"They said in Parliament that we should not be vague and go to the Hague. But now that Ocampo has set in, I can see their stomachs rumbling," said Mbadi.
The leaders also threw their weight behind the Andrew Ligale-led Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission (IIBRC), saying the commission had done a commendable job.
Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode urged fellow MPs to allow Ligale and his team to fulfil their mandate by passing a law to allow the gazettement of the 80 new constituencies.
Minister Kajwang’ added that the IIBRC is a constitutional office and its function could not be a scuttled by a high court.
“IIBRC is a constitutional office with a mandate to carry out its functions without any form of interference from any quarter because it has security of tenure created by constitution,” said Kajwang’.
“Those who have gone to court to block Ligale Commission from gazzetting the 80 new constituencies are greedy people who fear competitive politics based on equal opportunities and would want to get numbers in parliament to chock the successor of President Kibaki, ” said Kajwang’.
