Adongo,Many of your predictions are slowly finding their way into the local media.
Campaign for Ocampo Six could backfire By Emeka-Mayaka Gekara emayaka@ke.nationmedia.com and Njeri Rugene nrugene@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, April 2 2011 at 22:00
Yes indeed!
Justice minister warns that rhetoric at political rallies could be read as an attempt to intimidate potential witnessesThe highly emotional political rallies and the planned display of political might at The Hague by Kenyan politicians might end up strengthening the prosecutor’s case against some of the post-election violence suspects.
The suspects have been warned that the enthusiastic support by MPs heading to the International Criminal Court and the charged pronouncements by some may work against all of them.
The aggressive campaign to amass supporters for the trip to The Hague could be read as an attempt to intimidate the court and possible witnesses.
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo could also cite the suspects’ conduct and the rallies to argue that it would not be possible to hold credible trials in Kenya as their supporters might hold protests outside a local special court.
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo says the chest-thumping, showmanship and display of political might at The Hague “endangers” the suspects.
“I am saddened by the casual conduct of MPs over the ICC matter. Ocampo’s is not a court to show how powerful and influential you are. The more you show the court that you can attract huge Parliamentary numbers to The Hague, the more you convince them that you can influence key decisions or even paralyse law and order through those numbers in Parliament,’’ said Mr Kilonzo, a senior counsel.
Six of the suspects the prosecutor’s office says bear the greatest responsibility for the post-election violence will face their first day in court on Thursday and Friday.
At least 30 MPs have declared they are headed to The Hague-based court in a show of solidarity with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto, in particular.
Others who have been summoned to the court are former Cabinet minister Henry Kosgey, head of the Public Service Francis Muthaura, former police commissioner Hussein Ali and radio journalist Joshua Sang.
In the run-up to the much-publicised trip, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have held highly charged rallies at which their allies continue to make statements which some have described as tantamount to incitement.
The politicians have also used the rallies to criticise Mr Moreno-Ocampo whom they accuse of being used by Prime Minister Raila Odinga to remove them from the presidential race next year.
Some of the politicians, especially those from Central Kenya and Nairobi, have declared that they would mobilise protests by women and youth against the court, claiming it is “persecuting” their people.
Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi declared she would lead women in stripping naked should Mr Kenyatta be detained at The Hague.
A theory has been advanced that the rallies are choreographed to demonstrate the influence Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have over their communities to build the argument that their prosecution could trigger tension in sections of the country.
In his letter to the UN Security Council asking for postponement of the ICC case, President Kibaki described the two politicians as “front-runners” in the 2012 presidential election.
Mr Kilonzo, the Justice minister, cautions that the display of might is likely to demonstrate to the court that the individuals wield strong influence over Parliament which could be deployed to set up “a user-friendly” tribunal.
It could also create the impression before the court that they hold sufficient power to frustrate investigations of the poll violence cases.
Former Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere questions the motive of the rallies.
“Are Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta preparing grounds for their supporters to protest if their cases proceed to trial at the ICC?”
Pro-ICC campaigner Ndung’u Wainaina and Mr Wamwere point out that the politicians’ activities were against the International Crimes Act.
“The Act provides that if the suspects obstruct justice or intimidate, they are liable to imprisonment,” he said.
Mr Wainaina of the International Centre for Conflict and Policy describes the planned display of might at The Hague as “a flaunting of impunity”.
Source:
www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1137700/-/7qadn3/-/index.html