President Uhuru Kenyatta has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of being obsessed with the trial of his deputy William Ruto and declared opponents using the case to cause a rift in Government will fail.
The Head of State said he and his deputy had overcome a myriad of challenges and assured the Government would do all it takes to have the ICC case against Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang terminated.
“We have walked a treacherous journey with my brother William and we know some people are doing business with the ICC matter to insinuate that there is discord between us, but they will not achieve it since we are united as ever and ready to unite the country,” President Kenyatta told residents Sunday in Eldoret Town where he was accompanied by Ruto.
He wondered why The Hague-based court was so interested in the Kenyan case yet there were other atrocities and extreme violation of human rights perpetrated by warlords in Sryia and Iraq, among other countries facing wars.
“We want to be left alone to chart the development course of this country. As far as I am concerned, Kenya has no problem that warrants such focus. We need space to move on and address pertinent social challenges facing the country,” said Uhuru.
“Our journey towards a united country is on course and we do not want to be pulled back by reference of yesteryears, which should be left behind,” said the President.
Maintained innocence
Ruto maintained his innocence, saying he would be vindicated at the ICC in the fullness of time.
“We all know how the ICC cases were concocted and those who fabricated the lies will be ashamed when the truth will be known,” said Ruto.
The crowd interrupted Ruto’s speech by chanting “bei bei (price)” in reference to the delay in announcing the official maize purchase price by the National Cereals and Produce Board.
“Relax, the new prices will be announced today (Monday) since we have an able team that will steer the maize industry without burdening the farmers as before,” said Ruto.
Uhuru further said he would not tolerate divisive politics which were a recipe of enmity among Kenyans, blaming the opposition for moving around the country disparaging his authority.
“I am not ready to dialogue with anybody who on a daily basis spews negative statements about my Government. My Government will not entertain petty demands, which are foolish,” said Uhuru.
He defended his Government track record, saying they had made remarkable development in several sub-sectors like energy, education, health and infrastructure, among others.
Later in the evening, the Head of State held a closed-door meeting with elected and opinion leaders from three counties in the North Rift region amid discontent over ICC issues.
Separately, Jubilee MPs Sunday kept up the pressure on ICC over Ruto’s trial.
Over 150 MPs from the ruling coalition attacked the Opposition, civil society and international community over cases facing Ruto and Sang at the ICC.
Led by Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki and his National Assembly counterpart Aden Duale, the legislators alleged the groups influenced the cases facing the two.
Addressing a prayer rally for the DP over the pending case at Makutano Primary School in Kapenguria, the leaders blamed some civil society organisations (CSOs) for instigating cases against Kenyans and called on ICC judges to end it.
“The international community should listen to me very well, whether Germans or Britons. We are not going to do any business with you until Ruto and Sang are freed from the ICC,” said Prof Kindiki.
He expressed concern that the British Government had been given free training ground for its soldiers but was doing much atrocities yet no one had condemned them.
Mr Duale said Kenya would pull out of the Rome Statute if the case facing the DP was not withdrawn.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said he would table a motion in Parliament for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that engaged in alleged malice to be probed.
Host West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin and his Baringo counterpart Benjamin Cheboi affirmed their support for Jubilee, saying they were behind the quest to have Ruto freed.
