By Ken-Arthur Wekesa
The push by the civil society to have International Criminal Court suspects Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto barred from contesting the presidency has lit a bonfire; with claims emerging it is a plan to ensure one politician gets a soft landing in the General Election.
The accusations comes hot on the heels of sustained pressure by eight representatives of the civil society to have the courts declare the two unfit for public office over crimes against humanity charges.
The petitioners say allowing Ruto and Uhuru to run for president is tantamount to watering down of Chapter Six of the Constitution, which sets a high threshold for integrity and ethics for those seeking public office.
Other interests
Former Gatanga MP David Murathe, who is Uhuru’s ally, has pointed an accusing finger at the civil society for working at the behest of powerful rivals of the two presidential aspirants.
Murathe has alleged that an influential international NGO is part of the conspiracy to diminish political fortunes of Uhuru and Ruto.
“Those calling on the two not to run are the very civil society players who authored the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights report,” says Murathe.
The former legislator further accused some activists of conspiring with foreign forces to topple regimes in Africa and the Middle East.
The Standard On Sunday has also learnt Uhuru’s allies are fighting hard to see that the suitability of other presidential aspirants to contest is also determined by the courts.
It has emerged the three individuals – Patrick Njuguna, Augustino Netto and Charles Omanga and the Kenya Youth Parliament and Kenya Youth League who want Uhuru and Ruto barred from contesting have staged a takeover of the case and now want Prime Minister Raila Odinga, his deputy Musalia Mudavadi and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka enjoined in the case, claiming they have also been implicated in allegations of graft besides the ICC.
Onyango Weda, who is a TNA aspirant for Kisumu governor, represents the petitioners.
