MPs accuse Security Council of humiliating Africa over Uhuru, Ruto cases

Two Members of the National Assembly from Nyeri County on Sunday accused the United Nations Security Council of contempt and humiliating the African Union.

The two, Tetu MP Ndung’u Gethenji and Nyeri town MP Esther Murugi separately told the Daily Nation that Kenya does not need the permission of UN Security Council to protect its sovereignty. (READ: UN rejects bid to stop Uhuru Ruto ICC cases)

Mr Gethenji who is also the chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence stated that President Uhuru Kenyatta will not attend trials in The Hague.

“Kenya does not need the permission from the UN Security Council to protect its sovereignty. Africa spoke at the African Union (AU) Summit. Africa pronounced itself on matters of sovereignty and the matter of the International Criminal Court (ICC),” said Mr Gethenji.

He said they are now aligning themselves with that position of the AU as African sovereignty is crucial.

“Anybody who is attempting to take away our sovereignty is suffocating Africa and Africans,” said the Tetu MP.

The UN Security Council last Friday rejected an African Union demand to suspend the ICC trial of President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

A resolution proposed by African states calling for the deferment got only seven votes, two below the number needed to pass in the 15-member body. (READ: UN rejects bid to stop Uhuru Ruto ICC cases)

MOVE MOTION

Mr Gethenji said they will now be moving to the AU and they shall also be moving a motion in Parliament to adopt the position of the AU to ensure that the sovereignty of the country remains intact.

He disputed the results of last week’s opinion poll that indicated a majority of Kenyans want President Kenyatta to attend trials at the ICC. (READ: Leaders dispute opinion poll, urge Uhuru to skip ICC trial)

The MP said the pollsters cannot purport to speak for Kenyans, as both Kenyans and their leadership have stated in several open forums that they do not want to see their Head of State arraigned in court anywhere in the world.

Nyeri town MP Esther Murugi meanwhile said it is demeaning for the Kenyan president to go to The Hague.

Ms Murugi said it was now clear that the Western countries are just interested in the countries resources and cautioned that if Kenyans were not keen, they might end up being colonised by the West under the pretence that the West cares.

“Currently, we can afford to protect President Kenyatta, as he is the Head of State. However, it’s even worse to think what will happen when he is not the president,” said Ms Murugi.

She said President Kenyatta is still a Kenyan and after his term expires he might be arrested and taken to The Hague, and urged for better solutions to avoid such a situation in future.