from Judy Miriga

Folks,

ICC Hague made a stride many Kenyas were looking forward to. The ICC broke the ice and made a forward move according to the National Reform Accord Agenda, in line with the International Rome Treaty which Kenya Ratified.

The two Coalition Principles of the Coalition Government ought to have Set-Up a Tribunal Court a long time, one year ago. Both the two Principles ramained playing the Micky Mouse until they have lost their tenure of office last year in August, and we believe, the Transitional Commission will complete the work in time before the date of next election. The Supreme Court should lead Kenyans into following the order of National Reform Accord Agenda, as it is why their Office was formed.

The Attorney General Muigai, knows better and he should have advised the Coalition leadership appropriately so Kibaki is not seen as confused having lost his bearing as, ICC Hague confirmation just signaled they are engaged on their part.

The two Principles will be missing out in action, in-case they remain having their heads deeped in the sand and they will find it too late that, they have been overtaken by events.

ICC Hague is part of the process agreed on in the National Accord Reform Agenda. It is moving forward with its part Mission to bring justice for Kenyans and 99% people of Kenya are pleased that finally, we are on the road to Justice, something the two Principles hoped to wishy wash that it die a natural death. We therefore do not expect Kibaki to think straight on this one as he is the end target, where he will explain to us why he stole the elections.

I await to see or hear credible contribution from Kibaki after the shockwaves have subsided and he begin to see and act constructively, though the two Principles Coalition Government holds no water, they have been overtaken by events.

Cheers everybody……!!!

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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Kenya may set up postelection violence tribunal
Associated Press –

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s attorney general says the country is looking at setting up a special court to deal with cases stemming from Kenya’s 2007-08 post-election violence.

The announcement from Githu Muigai on Tuesday came one day after the Hague-based International Criminal Court said it would proceed with criminal cases against four prominent Kenyans, including two potential presidential candidates.

Kenya exploded in violence in late 2007 after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of a flawed election. More than 1,000 people were killed and many more wounded, but Kenya has never brought cases related to the violence to trial.

Muigai also said that Kenya would fully cooperate with the ICC as it carries its cases against the four Kenyans forward.

Kenya to set up election violence tribunal
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 7:26a.m.
By Jason Straziuso

The International Criminal Court prosecutor has commended Kenya’s political leaders – and even four suspects accused of orchestrating mass violence – for cooperating with the international tribunal, saying that Kenya is “showing a 21st-century model to manage conflict”.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said it could take 18 months or more to bring to trial four Kenyans charged with crimes against humanity for violence that followed the country’s 2007 presidential election. More than 1,000 people died.

Kenya will hold elections this year or early in 2013, and the trial timeline set out by Moreno-Ocampo sets up the possibility Kenya could elect a president who will then have to stand trial at The Hague.

The court on Monday confirmed charges against four of six original suspects, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former Education Minister William Ruto. Both plan to run for president. Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s founding president, Jomo Kenyatta.

Reaction inside Kenya to Monday’s decision to charge the four was subdued. There were no reports of violence.

“The reaction was perfect. There was no problem in Kenya and even the persons charged with the crimes explained they still believe they are innocent but they will keep cooperating with the court. I think it is remarkable,” ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo said at a news conference in The Hague, Netherlands.

Kenya’s attorney general said Tuesday that it would be premature on the part of the government to disallow Kenyatta or Ruto from running for office. The four suspects plan to appeal the charges against them by the court, a process that will take several months.

Attorney General Githu Muigai said a government committee of legal scholars would look at whether the two can run for president after legal appeals have been exhausted.

Muigai also said that Kenya is looking at setting up a special division inside its Supreme Court to deal with cases stemming from the election violence. Kenya exploded in tribal and other attacks after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of a flawed election.

Kenya has never brought cases related to the violence to trial, though Muigai said he has 5,000 files related to the postelection period and said it is time that the legal process “be energised” in Kenya. The country’s parliament defeated two attempts to create a special tribunal to prosecute cases, votes seen as a way for Kenya’s powerful to protect their own.

Muigai did not give a timeline for the tribunal to begin its work. He said Kenya will fully cooperate with the ICC as it moves forward with its cases against the four prominent Kenyans, adding: “It is our legal obligation.”

Along with Kenyatta and Ruto, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura and radio broadcaster Joshua Arap Sang were also charged by the court on Monday.

After the mass violence broke out, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan helped broker a deal that saw Kibaki retain the presidency and his top rival, Raila Odinga, fill the newly created position of prime minister. The coalition government has held together the last four years, and political leaders here say violence is no longer a tool that will be used – a claim that will be tested during the next presidential election.

“For the last four years, they made this miracle. They have this coalition government … working together, when in the past they were attacking each other,” Moreno-Ocampo said

US urges Kenya to cooperate with international court
AFP – Mon, Jan 23, 2012

The United States on Monday urged Kenya and its people to continue cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which ruled that four key Kenyans should be tried over post-election unrest.

“We believe accountability for the 2007-2008 post-election violence is critical to ensuring Kenya’s democracy, peace, and long-term stability,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

The Hague-based ICC said Monday that charges of crimes against humanity had been confirmed against presidential candidates William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta over deadly unrest that erupted following a disputed 2007 presidential vote.

Ruto and Kenyatta are allies of Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki.

Two other Kenyans, radio host Joshua arap Sang, 36, and Francis Muthaura, 65, the head of Kenya’s civil service, will also face trial. Ruto and Sang were opposition supporters in 2007.

More than 1,100 people died in the post-election violence, shattering Kenya’s image as a beacon of regional stability.

While Washington makes no judgment as to the innocence or guilt of the four suspects, it calls on Kenya to live up to the spirit of its new constitution “which embraces transparency, accountability and integrity,” Nuland said.

“We urge the Kenyan government, the people of Kenya, and the individuals involved to continue to cooperate fully with the ICC proceedings and to remain focused on Kenya’s future, especially through implementation of the reform agenda,” Nuland said.

“The United States is committed to continuing to support Kenya’s ambitious reform process as Kenya looks ahead to its first national elections under the new constitution,” Nuland said.

Finance Minister Kenyatta pledged to cooperate with the ICC but stressed his innocence in the violence, while Deputy Prime Minister Ruto dismissed charges against him as “strange.”

Kenya braces for ICC ruling on top officials
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 – AFP 2:29 | 1,707 views

The International Criminal Court will decide over the next few days whether six men accused of orchestrating the post election violence in Kenya in 2008 should stand trial. Tens of thousands of people who fled the violence are still living in camps, awaiting to be re-settled and given proper compensation. Despite promises from the government that local tribunals would be set up to try suspects, nothing

Kibaki, Kalonzo react to the ruling

Uploaded by standardgroupkenya on Jan 23, 2012
The decision to commit two Kenya government officials to full trial at the Hague has elicited a quick reaction from the highest office in the land. President Mwai Kibaki has directed the attorney general to constitute a legal team to advise the government on the way forward after the ruling. Deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta and head of civil service Francis Muthaura go to trial along with William Ruto and Joshua sang. KTN’s Wilkister Nyabwa reports on what this may mean.

Ocampo 6 profiles: Muthaura the silent diplomat

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Jan 23, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke

How the accused reacted to the ICC verdict

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Jan 23, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
The four suspects whose cases have been confirmed by the international criminal court say they will fight on to prove their innocence. William Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang say they are consulting with their legal teams before making public their next course of action while Francis Muthaura appeared with his lawyers and vowed to push for the review of the verdict.

Gatundu residents react

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Jan 23, 2012

http://www.ntv.co.ke
In Gatundu, the home turf of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, some residents reacted angrily after ICC’s decision. Ntv’s Sheila Sendeyo brings us the reactions from that end, immediately after the ruling.

Post verdict reactions

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Jan 23, 2012

http://www.ntv.co.ke
In Gatundu, the home turf of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, some residents reacted angrily after ICC’s decision. Ntv’s Sheila Sendeyo brings us the reactions from that end, immediately after the ruling.

Kisumu reactions on ICC verdict

Uploaded by NTVKenya on Jan 23, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Residents of the Lakeside City of Kisumu got a chance to air their views on the ICC’s confirmation of charges ruling on the Ocampo 6. Ntv’s Ouko Okusah presents this report.

Civil society call for resignation of Uhuru and Muthaura.
Posted byThe Kenyan DAILY POST
Tuesday Jan 24, 2012- Religious Organisations, Local and International Civil Society groups want Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and head of civil service Francis Muthaura sacked after their crimes against humanity cases were confirmed on Monday by ICC. They urged President Kibaki to heed his promise to the country where in two instances he said he will suspend the two if the cases go to full trial.

International Centre for Justice Executive Director George Kegoro urged President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to suspend Uhuru Kenyatta and Francis Muthaura following confirmation of their charges.

“President and Prime Minister should fulfill their obligations to uphold the rule of law and suspend from office Kenyatta and Muthaura in line with Chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution and also call upon the suspects to vacate office on their own volition in line with their statements of 15 December 2010 to cooperate with the ICC,” Kegoro said as he also asked them to give the ICC the full cooperation during the process.

Kenya Human Rights Commission Executive Director Atsango Chesoni said now the country should have a local court to try the lower level perpetrators.“It is very important for us to have a local mechanism to deal with the lower level perpetrators as we recollect that the ICC was only dealing with the most responsible. Even if we were at the stage of conviction, we still would have a lot of work to do.” Atsango chesoni said