Civil society to lobby for veto on ICC cases deferral quest

By Edwin Cheserek

The Civil Society will lobby permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to oppose Kenya’s quest for deferral of its cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The country, the group said, would neither stop nor win in its efforts to defer cases for those implicated in post-election violence. "They must be tried by the ICC," said Ken Wafula, chairman of the Non Governmental Organisations Council.

This was after Government functionaries launched a bid to collect two million signatures to prove the deferral bid is popular. The State is said to have involved chiefs and councillors to collect the signatures in a direct response to the Civil Society, which intended to collect a million.

Wafula said shuttle diplomacy by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka was a waste of time. "The die has been cast and leaders who think the trial will be reversed are living in the past."

Suspects’ interests

The VP had been accused of using millions of taxpayers’ money for the interest of the suspects at the expense of victims of the skirmishes.

In response, Kalonzo said he had been sent by the President to execute the diplomatic mission, adding African presidents’ intentions are never questioned.

Wafula said it was unfortunate that Kalonzo has demeaned his stature by serving as a pillar of impunity.

Addressing the Press in Eldoret, Wafula said they would mobilise Kenyans to compel the Government to account for the funds spent to serve the interest of individuals.

He said they convened a meeting last week at the German Embassy in Nairobi chaired by its officials, who promised to take up the matter.

"The German officials, a minister and a parliamentary secretary expressed willingness to stand with the Civil Society in opposing the Government’s move," added Wafula.

He said the lobby group planned to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York this July and asked international organisations to support them.