I’m in Waki envelope, says former legislator

By Standard Team

Former Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara has claimed she is among suspects in the Waki envelope.

Mrs Kihara said she is prepared to face trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

"My name was maliciously included in that list and I support the trials be at The Hague," she said.

Kihara said she would prove she did not take part in post-election upheavals in Naivasha.

Former Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere said perpetrators of the chaos should not go unpunished.

Kihara: I will defend myself

The two leaders spoke during the burial of ‘Standard’ photographer Lucas Thuo, on Thursday. Mr Koigi described the violence as the worst in Kenya’s history.

"When a prominent personality breaks the law, he is easily let off the hook and only small people face the music," said Koigi.

Pertinent issues

Separately, Water Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri dismissed recent deliberations by the Cabinet on the trial of post-election violence culprits. He termed the talks a waste of time.

Mr Kiunjuri said Cabinet meetings should instead focus on other pertinent issues affecting Kenyans such as hunger and insecurity.

Speaking at Wiyumiririe in Laikipia East constituency, Kiunjuri said time had run out for the formation of a local tribunal.

"How can you give somebody convicted a chance to choose how he wants to be punished? The talks called by the two principals are a waste of time," he said. He said MPs would oppose a local tribunal.

Support Ocampo

"The Cabinet should know Kenyans are tired of cat and mouse games," he added.

Elsewhere, politicians have been warned against taking the country in circles over post-election violence.

Assistant Executive Director of Kenya Human Rights Commission Tom Kagwe subsequently asked Kenyans to rally behind The Hague option if it is justice they seek.

The director said: "The Hague is the only way to get justice and Kenyans should support Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo when he arrives here to investigate perpetrators of post-election violence."

Mr Kagwe added: "It is wrong for politicians to assume they can shape agenda in the country because Kenyans are capable of taking their destiny into their own hands".

Kagwe noted the move by Cabinet to shoot down a proposal to institute a local tribunal to try suspects and suggestions by some ministers that the matter be referred to a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) was a ploy to hoodwink Kenyans. He noted TJRC has no capacity to indict and subsequently try post-election violence suspects, adding the suggestion was a decoy to circumvent the search for justice.

Kagwe, who was speaking during the media launch of the report "Steadfast in Protest", an observatory for the protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) decried what he termed shifting of goal posts by politicians.

He said leaders should not expect suspects to be tried through the justice system after an appellate judge, Justice Philip Waki who led the investigation into post-election violence suggested otherwise.

"How can local courts be an option when a high ranking judge in the same courts dismissed them in his report," he posed.

—Reports by Karanja Njoroge, James Munyeki and Dann Okoth