Kosgey breaks silence on trials, his future in ODM

By Stephen Makabila

After being cleared by the International Criminal Court in January and fully returning to the political fold, ODM chairman Henry Kosgey has broken his silence.

He is now back at the centre of party activities especially in the Rift Valley, his home turf. In an interview with The Standard On Saturday over the 2007/2008 post-election-violence, the Tinderet MP defends Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He stands up for the PM over claims he could have had a hand in picking names of the ‘Ocampo Six’.

ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey

“I do not believe the PM had any role in naming ICC suspects and such claims are false. Raila advocated for a local tribunal, which Parliament voted against out of the instigation of some of The Hague suspects who thought ICC was better,” said Kosgey.

Kosgey said even after being named as one of the suspects, he had faith he would be vindicated because he knew he was innocent.

Kosgey, who predicts an ODM win in the General Election and a Raila presidency, talks of the reflections and soul-searching he underwent after the ICC pardon before deciding to stick with the party.

“After some long silence, I reflected on my next political move. My feeling was that we are at some political crossroads. I decided to stick with ODM, which I feel can push a national agenda that guarantees peace and justice for all. It’s a party that can take this country to the next level under this new Constitution,” said Kosgey.

The Tinderet MP noted it was time the public condemned instead of glorifying those using the tribal card to whip political support. “A worthy leader should think of the 40 million Kenyans and not a section of Kenyans along tribal lines,” added Kosgey.

QUESTION: Now that you are actively involved in ODM activities after being cleared by the ICC, and as the senior most party official in Rift Valley Province, what strategies have you put in place to strengthen the party and recover lost ground?

ANSWER: I and other elected MPs allied to ODM in the region are telling our people that their future lies in ODM. We are telling them they should resist being isolated on ethnic grounds and accept to be part and parcel of a wider Kenya.

One good thing is that people are realising this and they are changing and re-aligning themselves with ODM. ODM is the only party with a national outlook capable of taking the country to the next level under the new Constitution.
Your opponents in Rift Valley, especially the URP team, view leaders who have stuck with ODM as political traitors.

We are in ODM by choice and we are a good number of MPs. Those who are not with us are free to be where they are. I would like to state that I am not involved in wooing any MP to ODM or interested in personalised attacks on anyone.

Some of your supporters have suggested you be appointed Deputy Prime Minister and double up as Deputy Party leader. What is your take on this?
Yes, there are calls to have me appointed DPM and I have personally been challenged by my constituents on whether I am ready for the job or not.

They have been calling FM stations to advance the same. I have told them yes, I want that position. I am also ready to serve as Deputy Party leader and eventually presidential running mate to Raila. If that happens, it would completely change the political equation in the Rift Valley in favour of ODM.

How is your relationship with Eldoret North MP William Ruto, and when did you last chat?
A... Our relationship remains cordial because we have never quarreled and technically we are still in the same party. Setting the right public agenda also drives my policy and that is why I have been elected MP six times.

If ODM national elections were held today, which position would you go for?
I will contest the position of deputy party leader. I have the necessary political experience to support that position and I have equally received a lot of encouragement from my people to go for the same.
What chance would you give ODM in the coming presidential race?

A...I am sure Raila is going to win the presidency and ODM is going to form the next Government.
There are those who have claim Raila may have been involved in forwarding the names of the original O’campo Six to The Hague. What is your view?

I do not believe so because the PM advocated for a local tribunal that MPs voted against out of the instigation of some of The Hague suspects who thought ICC was better. The slogan then was “Don’t Be Vague, lets go to The Hague”. I strongly believe such claims against the PM are unfair.

Do you support Government attempts to revert the ICC cases to the East African Court of Justice?
I am not a legal expert but I do not think the East African Court of Justice has the jurisdiction of handling ICC cases. It could also be a long process before it changes its jurisdiction. What is interesting is that last year, I was the only one out of the then O’campo Six who had agreed that the cases be referred locally or to Arusha, Tanzania.

What went through your mind when you appeared for the confirmation of charges at The Hague?
I said from the beginning that I was falsely accused and that I was to be vindicated at some point and it came to pass.