Kalonzo: I'm opposed to West attack on Libya

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has opposed the ongoing attacks against Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi by Western countries.

Mr Musyoka made the statement on Wednesday morning as Parliament started debate on President Kibaki’s speech during Tuesday’s special sitting on its resumption.

The VP told MPs he would have preferred negotiations with the embattled strongman rather than the aerial bombardments by the French, British and United States armies.

“This is the time for Africa,” said Mr Musyoka.

Libya was one of the countries the Vice President visited in the first round of the shuttle diplomacy that secured the support of the African Union to support Kenya’s case for the deferral of the cases against the Ocampo Six at the International Criminal Court.

It was not clear whether that is the official government’s position but he was moving the motion to discuss the speech in his capacity as Leader of Government Business in the House.

He also used the opportunity to defend himself over his visits abroad in a bid to shore up support for Kenya’s attempt to have the cases against the Ocampo Six deferred.

Mr Musyoka said he was fully committed to the cause- despite its increasingly bleak prospects for success- and expressed optimism that it would succeed.

ODM Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh said the party preferred a referral of the cases back to Kenya, where the local courts would handle it, instead of the deferral.

“When we ask for a deferral, it is for a one-year pause in the case. I don’t know how that will work because we will still go back to the ICC,” said Ms Shebesh.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, suspended ministers William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, former police chief Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang have been issued with summonses by the ICC.