Avoid The Hague, says think-tank
The head of Africa Policy Institute Dr Peter Kagwanja presents the report findings on 'why Kenya is loosing the war on corruption" during the launch at Laico Regency on Thursday. Photo/FAITH NJUGUNA
A pan-African think tank on Thursday faulted the Waki report for ordering the submission of a list of shame to an international court if a local tribunal is not formed by a set deadline.
The Africa Policy Institute, which has offices in Nairobi and Pretoria, said the reputation of the Kenyan Judiciary would suffer if the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, the Netherlands, ends up prosecuting post-election violence suspects.
Mr Justice Philip Waki gave the list of names to former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who will forward it to the ICC if a local tribunal is not created by February 28.
Forgiveness
This step is likely given recent infighting within ODM, coupled with President Kibaki’s proposal that justice should be tempered with forgiveness.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, Dr Peter Kagwanja, the president of the institute, argued that Kenyans should be responsible for any court proceedings that stem from release of the Waki report.
He was speaking during the launch of a report on corruption in Kenya.
“The moment we open ourselves up to the international community, we become vulnerable to outside influences.”
