Post by nowayhaha on Apr 3, 2011 18:23:04 GMT 3
www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=69631
With the clock ticking towards the Hague date for the so-called Ocampo Six, different sentiments continue to be expressed by leaders.
Former foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula has said that that cases involving the suspects of post election violence can be dealt with in the country if a credible judicial process is formed.
Mr.Wetangula who was accompanied by Forestry and Wild life Minister Dr.Noah Wekesa and Labour Minister John Munyes at a funeral in Trans Nzoia County said according to the Rome statute, the International Criminal Court can refer the cases of the six suspects locally if a credible process to prosecute them was formed.
Such efforts he said are in the hands of MPs.
The six so-called after the ICC prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo are deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former cabinet ministers William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, former police commissioner major General Hussein Ali, head of public service Francis Muthaura and journalist Joshua Arap Sang.
Kenyatta and Ruto have been transversing the country drumming up grassroots support and maintaining they were innocent.
On matters concerning the Ford Kenya party, Wetangula asked those who had defected including Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa to go back to the party to help make it stronger.
Wetangula declared that he was still in the race for the presidential seat come the next general elections on a Ford Kenya platform.
Meanwhile a cabinet minister and two legislators from western Kenya have urged the six post election violence suspects to desist from defending themselves in public but prepare to argue their case at The Hague.
Lands Minister James Orengo said the suspects must let the International Criminal Court do its work adding that if they are found not guilty the court shall set them free.
Speaking at Bunyala in Budalangi Constituency, Orengo said nobody was above the law adding that the trial should serve as an example to other Kenyans to uphold the rule of law.
Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda appealed to the suspects to remain calm since defending themselves in public was likely to make people and the court believe that they had something to be guilty about.
"Let them go and defend themselves. If they are clean they will come back and if they are guilty let them serve their sentences and we shall still welcome them back home," said the MP.
Budalangi Member of Parliament Ababu Namwamba said those opposing the Hague process refused to support the formation of a local tribunal to try the suspects.
He said the ODM party had no scores to settle with the suspects but wants to see a fair trial and justice for the post election violence victims.
Water Minister Charity Ngilu called for mature politics as the country gears towards the 2012 general elections.
Ngilu castigated leaders moving around the country preaching politics of division saying the move was likely to bring acrimony into the country.
With the clock ticking towards the Hague date for the so-called Ocampo Six, different sentiments continue to be expressed by leaders.
Former foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula has said that that cases involving the suspects of post election violence can be dealt with in the country if a credible judicial process is formed.
Mr.Wetangula who was accompanied by Forestry and Wild life Minister Dr.Noah Wekesa and Labour Minister John Munyes at a funeral in Trans Nzoia County said according to the Rome statute, the International Criminal Court can refer the cases of the six suspects locally if a credible process to prosecute them was formed.
Such efforts he said are in the hands of MPs.
The six so-called after the ICC prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo are deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former cabinet ministers William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, former police commissioner major General Hussein Ali, head of public service Francis Muthaura and journalist Joshua Arap Sang.
Kenyatta and Ruto have been transversing the country drumming up grassroots support and maintaining they were innocent.
On matters concerning the Ford Kenya party, Wetangula asked those who had defected including Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa to go back to the party to help make it stronger.
Wetangula declared that he was still in the race for the presidential seat come the next general elections on a Ford Kenya platform.
Meanwhile a cabinet minister and two legislators from western Kenya have urged the six post election violence suspects to desist from defending themselves in public but prepare to argue their case at The Hague.
Lands Minister James Orengo said the suspects must let the International Criminal Court do its work adding that if they are found not guilty the court shall set them free.
Speaking at Bunyala in Budalangi Constituency, Orengo said nobody was above the law adding that the trial should serve as an example to other Kenyans to uphold the rule of law.
Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda appealed to the suspects to remain calm since defending themselves in public was likely to make people and the court believe that they had something to be guilty about.
"Let them go and defend themselves. If they are clean they will come back and if they are guilty let them serve their sentences and we shall still welcome them back home," said the MP.
Budalangi Member of Parliament Ababu Namwamba said those opposing the Hague process refused to support the formation of a local tribunal to try the suspects.
He said the ODM party had no scores to settle with the suspects but wants to see a fair trial and justice for the post election violence victims.
Water Minister Charity Ngilu called for mature politics as the country gears towards the 2012 general elections.
Ngilu castigated leaders moving around the country preaching politics of division saying the move was likely to bring acrimony into the country.