From: Mary Gakere
our sovereignty is shaken if our sitting president is publically humiliated —
Kenya electioneering 2013.
UN Secretary general Kofi Annan jetted into the country two weeks ago and warned against Uhuru and Ruto running for Kenya’s top post. Hot on his heels was International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda with her threats; Uhuru and Ruto will face International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings whether they become president of Kenya or not.
Kenya First.
With dark cloud of ICC hanging over our electioneering, we need to think hard as to what is the best way forward. We can ignore both Kofi Annan and ICC Chief Prosecutor and proceed to elect either William Ruto or Uhuru Kenyatta or both as Kenya’s next president and Vice-president at our peril, however, it seems prudent to think about our country first before taking that leap.
Rome Statute has no immunity for anyone, not even a sitting president and non will be available for Ruto and Uhuru. As a relatively new court, ICC will assert all its power to flex its muscle in order not to appear weak or ambivalent in the international scene. Kenya’s is, without a doubt,the most complex case for ICC yet and an opportunity for the court to gain much needed credibility as a major player in the world justice arena.
Kenya case at ICC is not going away and will be fully and completely prosecuted. The court views this as a caution against impunity in Kenya and the region. It could take years before its all over (since its inception ten years ago, the court has just concluded the first case; – Thomas Lubanga Dyilo of Demcratic Republic of Congo, senctenced , 14 years by ICC), and would be unfair for Uhuru and Ruto to take Kenyans down that road.
Uhuru/Ruto to stand down
Our people will be demoralized and our sovereignty shaken if our sitting president is humiliated publicly in a criminal trial with the whole world watching. It will appear as if Kenya and not the individual is on trial. Such a trauma will not augur well with our national psychic and we ought to avoid it.
Uhuru and Ruto must put country before their own personal ambitions. It would be a great embarrassment if we were to have a sitting President of Kenya in a witness box in Hague or locked up in jail.
It is unfortunate that these two Kenyans with huge potential for leadership in Kenya may have to stand down this time around. But wananchi and country could benefit tremediously if the two were to refocus their energy, vision and resources to another suitable, credible and honest person with integrity and good sound policies that can positively guide our country and people for the next five years.
By Njau Njembura Njoroge.