Kenya cabinet meet over tribunal, Mau

Kenya ministers held a meeting of the cabinet on Thursday to discuss the legislation for setting up a local tribunal and the explosive Mau issue.

The meeting, chaired by President Kibaki, started at 10.00am and ended after 4.00pm.

A media briefing on the deliberations of the cabinet is scheduled for 6.00pm at State House, Nairobi.

A final decision on whether to try post- election violence suspects in Kenya or refer the matter to the International Criminal Court was expected.

The Cabinet met at a time when it is sharply divided over handling of squatters at Mau Forest Complex and perpetrators of last year's post-election violence.

On Wednesday, Justice National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo said no changes had been made to the Bill presented to the Cabinet last week.

A proposal to give immunity to the President from prosecution and to allow the Attorney General to terminate a case has been opposed by some members.

However, Mr Kilonzo has insisted the Bill met international standards and promised to re-table it in the Cabinet without changes.

The local trial is meant to enable Kenya avoid an international trial which could portray the country as a failed state.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) is poised to step in if the coalition government does not create its own court to try those accused of causing the violence that killed at least 1,300 people and uprooted more than 300,000.

The Mau issue is also expected to surface in the Cabinet as clock ticks on the government to save Kenya's biggest tower from further destruction.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga tabled a list of beneficiaries of the resource in Parliament which includes some current MPs former president Moi's son Gideon and an aide John Lokorio.

While a majority of the Cabinet members wants squatters at the forest to be immediately removed to pave way for conservation, three from Rift Valley are pushing for compensation of all the settlers before they are removed.

The three are: Agriculture's William Ruto, Franklin Bett (Roads) and Hellen Sambili (Sports).

Mr Odinga and Environment minister John Michuki have been championing for the removal of the squatters.

Mr Michuki says only 1962 squatters with "genuine" title deeds should be compensated or resettled.

Conservation of Mau is crucial to agriculture, energy and tourism sectors which are crucial for Kenya's economic growth.

It is also a livelihood to millions in East Africa.

Today's Cabinet comes hot in the heels of improved relations between Mr Odinga and President Kibaki following their three days development and peace making tour of Nyanza last week.