Lobby pushes for Kenya tribunal to try ‘small fish’

Prof Ghai said the positions taken by politicians were against the values of the new Constitution, whose implementation was behind schedule. Photo/FILE

A group of activists on Wednesday urged Kenyans to support the formation of a local tribunal to complement trials of six on International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo’s list.

Speaking under the Change Associates, the group said that while the ICC was dealing with key perpetrators of the post-election violence, there was need to deal with the rest of the cases which would not be handled by The Hague.

“This was a hideous moment in our country and we cannot afford to sweep things under the carpet.

“We cannot have proper reconciliation in the country without establishing the whole truth,” former Constitution of Kenya Review Commission chairman Yash Pal Ghai said.

Prof Ghai also said that the positions taken by politicians were against the values of the new Constitution, whose implementation was behind schedule.

He added that the arguments being fronted were “in support of the culture of impunity”.

His sentiments were shared by the group executive director, Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu, who said that a credible local mechanism would ensure justice for all victims.

Kenyans, he added, were aware of those who committed the crimes in their locality and there was need to ensure they were brought to book.

He, however, said that given the uproar that has been caused by the naming of the six potential suspects, a local tribunal would “have been interfered with” and as a result would not have the desired impact.