President ‘behind move on Hague’

President Kibaki is behind the shuttle diplomacy by Cabinet ministers seeking the support of African Union to defer Kenya’s case at the International Criminal Court.

The revelation comes as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka told the Nation he had already secured the backing of South African and Ugandan governments, which he visited last week.

“The response of both President Zuma of South Africa and Museveni of Uganda is positive. They are fully in agreement that we must solve these issues locally. The ICC should be a court of last resort,” he said.

This week, Mr Musyoka and several Cabinet ministers are expected to continue with their diplomatic offensive to various African capitals to solicit support for Kenya’s position ahead of the AU summit, which takes place at the end of the month.

The VP is scheduled to meet Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika, his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, among others, to explain Kenya’s position.

Others who have been tasked to reach out to African presidents are ministers Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe), Njeru Githae (Djibouti) and Dalmas Otieno (Ghana).

Mr Musyoka explained that it was President Kibaki’s wish that they make the trips to brief his colleagues in the continent on the situation. “We did not want to ambush his colleagues at the AU summit that takes place later this month,“ he said.

The VP said MPs had been recalled from their Christmas break to speed up the passage of required Bills and approve names of new appointees to crucial offices in the Judiciary and the Police before the government approaches the UN Security Council for deferment.

He said that when Parliament resumes on Tuesday, their plate would be full.

The key appointments are that of a new Chief Justice, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Inspector General of Police.

Mr Musyoka said that in seeking to defer the cases, the government was not trying to pull out of the ICC.