MPs claim ICC plotting Jubilee Government fall

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale

More than 40 Jubilee MPs have censured the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its handling of the Kenyan cases and referred to it as a ‘political’ court serving foreign interests.

The lawmakers alleged the Hague-based court is more interested in perpetrating a regime change in Kenya in order to install a puppet government, than to ensure justice for the post-election violence victims. They read mischief in the decision by the Trial Chamber to accept unsworn witness statements made outside the presence of the judges in the case against Deputy President William Ruto.

They took issue with the "exploitation by the court to try and nail the DP", maintaining Ruto was innocent. They also expressed optimism that the case would collapse.

Led by Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura (Murang'a), Senator Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township), the MPs wondered why the ICC has continued to treat Kenya as an "unworthy, reviled stepchild".

“Local and international lawyers will agree with us that the ICC has come out as a political court rather than a criminal court. The case is moving back to front instead of following trial of evidence,” said Mr Murungi.

He continued: "The accused is presumed guilty first. The ICC has gone for the accused first before the evidence and this is why it is trying to fix the DP. This is the problem of political cases.”

Murungi and Mr Duale told off the ICC over its conspiracy to advance foreign interests by trying high-profile personalities, saying the cases are already doomed. "I have been very consistent on this matter and will continue. These attempts to divide Jubilee ahead of 2017 will not succeed,” warned Duale.

The leaders questioned the admissibility of manufactured statements motivated by political bias, personal interest, untested by thorough investigation and recanted under oath.

“On one hand, the court rejected the sworn testimony given by the witnesses before the judges in court,” said Mr Gitura, adding: "The are now setting absurd precedent of not just cherry-picking evidence, but of trial by whim. It is no longer about justice and accountability.This is abuse of the basic principles of a fair trial."

The MPs who addressed the media at Parliament Building Thursday faulted the ICC for "advancing a narrative aimed at dividing Kenyans". “The decision by the court marks a low in its determined descent into travesty. The court has demonstrated utter failure of justice in many ways,” said Gitura.

On Wednesday, Ruto suffered a setback when ICC judges allowed prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to use recanted evidence.