Ruto and Sang meet in defiance of ICC

Two people named by the International Criminal Court over post-poll violence came face to face at a prayer meeting to usher in the New Year.

The function was convened by spiritual leaders affiliated to Emo (Kalenjin for a calling) Foundation.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang were seen in public for the first time since they were named by the ICC chief prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

The move seemed to contravene Mr Ocampo’s conditions, which warned that the people he is investigating should not meet or contact each other.  

Some 13 MPs in attendance, including the Information and Communications minister, Mr Samuel Poghisio, threw their weight behind those named by Mr Ocampo, saying they had nothing to fear.

Emo Foundation is an amalgamation of various churches in the North Rift region.

However, politics took the centre stage, with MPs focusing on The Hague-based court.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga came under sharp criticism from MPs allied to Mr Ruto.  

Environment assistant minister Margaret Kamar for the first time publicly declared her support for Mr Ruto by terming the list that was released by Mr Ocampo as shoddy and unfair.

Rejected local tribunal

Ms Kamar said that she supports Kenya’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute because it had fallen short of the international standards, hence it can not be trusted.

“We thought that the ICC being an international body would carry out fair and accurate investigations but that was not the case,” said Ms Kamar.

She said that they thought ICC would have learnt something when Parliament rejected a local tribunal because they would not trust Kenya’s judicial system, and opted for the ICC because they believed it to be credible.

“Our thinking was wrong, and I now believe that Mr Ocampo’s investigation was politically motivated, hence he cannot be trusted.

“This is why I want Kenya to disengage itself from the Rome Statute,” said Ms Kamar.