from: Judy Miriga
Folks,
Things with all matters that are Constitutional for Reform Accord, must be done the way it should. There must be no short-cuts for corrupt political interests. The call for Majimbo/County Bill including Finance and Land Bills are cases that must not be taken for granted.
Police reform, law and order must be part of fundamental basic reconciliation for reconstruction which both the two Principals in the Coalition Government, Kibaki and Raila have not taken serious. Insecurity and Police brutality with extra-ordinary killings are still the order of the day. Theft of Health Insurace is taking a wrong Turn under a serious conspiracy for cover-up. This means, no legal action will go down the roots to excecute all those involved of public financial swindle and theft.
There is no way, election will be free and fair without completing core basic aspects of constitutionality for Reform Accord both two Principals swore to uphold. Already temperature, behavior and attitudes are leaning on serious conflicts worse than those of 2007/8 and such are confirmed from activities and confrontational sentiments from political leadership heard from political rallies and public gatherings.
There is need for urgent intervention by the United Nations, the Team of Eminent leaders and the world to help save a situation in Kenya before everything-else fall apart.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Mombasa Republican stand off
Published on May 22, 2012 by NTVKenya
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Mombasa Republican Council has now declared that it will not drop its secession bid despite government threats. The group which has been outlawed by the government has also dismissed political leaders who over the weekend attempted to woo them. And as Nimrod Taabu reports, experts are now warning the government against taking the MRC question lightly.
The Star (Nairobi)
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Kenya: ICC Lawyers in Country for Fresh Evidence
By Paul Ilado, 23 May 2012
ICC/CPI
ICC Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Top lawyers and investigators from the International Criminal Court have made a fresh visit to the 2007-08 post-election violence hot spots in Eldoret, Naivasha and Nakuru. The team is carrying out further investigations into the cases against four Kenyans faced with trial at the Hague. The team led by a lawyer from West Africa has interrogated more than 100 witnesses including victims and individuals mentioned in the Waki Commission report which probed the violence.
The Office of the ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has relied heavily on the Waki Report which has details of who, when and where the violence occurred and was planned. The ICC has scheduled a status conference on June 11 and 12 at the Hague to fix the dates when the cases will be heard. Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Kass FM radio journalist Joshua arap Sang with their lawyers are expected to appear before the Trial Chamber judges during the conference
Among the investigating team in Kenya are two female lawyers from an East African country and Ghana respectively. Two top-notch crime investigators are involved in the latest probe in which the ICC is seeking to further strengthen the evidence it has for the poll violence cases. “I was interviewed by some foreigners who indicated that they are from the ICC and I told them what I know about the violence and how it happened,” said one of the victims who suffered injuries during the violence in Nakuru.
The team also took more photographs of the violence hots pots including the Kiambaa KAG Church where more than 30 people were burned alive during the chaos. The ICC presidency constituted Trial Chamber V and assigned Judges Christine Van den Wyngaert (Belgium), Kuniko Ozaki (Japan) and Chile Eboe-Osuji (Nigeria) to handle the Kenyan cases.
Outgoing chief prosecutor Ocampo has indicated that he will not oppose an application to have the cases put on hold until after the general election in which Uhuru and Ruto have declared their interest to run for presidency.
The Star has learnt that the reason Ocampo will not oppose any delay of the hearings is that the ICC prosecution wants to use the extra time to tighten its case against the four by sieving through fresh evidence and possibly getting additional witnesses. Ocampo is confident that the four will lose the jurisdiction challenge they have filed.
Incoming Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is reportedly already keenly handling the Kenyan situation which she will take up fully as Ocampo’s tenure ends. A human rights activist in Naivasha said the ICC lawyers this time around wants to deal with people who may have further crucial evidence. “They have been here for three days and went round talking to victims and visiting some areas,” said the rights activist.
In the case Ocampo accuses the four of having a network that planned and executed the violence. Yesterday sources indicated that some of the ICC witnesses and their families who are abroad have been relocated to safer locations after Ocampo complained of about their safety. They have been placed under further tight security and their children enrolled for education at schools mostly in Europe.
Hague war crimes court clears way for Kenya trials
Reuters –
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court on Thursday cleared the way for the trial of four Kenyans accused of being behind the violence which erupted after the country’s elections in December 2007.
The four men, who include Uhuru Kenyatta, a former presidential hopeful and the son of Kenya’s founding president, have denied the charges and claimed the court did not have the right to try them.
More than 1,220 people died in the post-election violence.
The court’s pre-trial chamber ruled in March that it had the jurisdiction to try the four men, who also include William Ruto,
the former higher education minister and presidential hopeful.
Thursday’s confirmation by the appeals chamber means a date for the start of the trial can now be set.
Indictees brought before international criminal courts frequently contest courts’ jurisdiction as an initial legal manoeuvre.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18197709
ICC rejects challenge to Kenyan election violence trial
The International Criminal Court has rejected an appeal by four prominent Kenyans accused of orchestrating post-election bloodshed in 2008.
The ruling means they are likely to face trial in the Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.
All four men deny their roles in violence that surrounded a disputed presidential election in which more than 1,200 people died.
They had challenged the ICC’s jurisdiction on technical grounds.
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is the most high-profile suspect.
He is a son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and is a deputy prime minister.
He is also a leading ally of President Mwai Kibaki and has said he will stand in next year’s elections.
In January Kenya’s attorney-general ruled he should be allowed to remain in office pending the outcome of the challenge to the ICC’s right to hear the case