Mutula urges leaders to back new laws

By Martin Mutua

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo has urged his colleagues to support the two bills seeking to reform the judiciary saying they were the solution to Kenya’s cases at The Hague.

"I can assure you that the two bills, that of vetting of judges and magistrates and the Judicial Service Bill are the solutions for the Ocampo six," he added.

The minister noted that once enacted by Parliament, there will be no basis for the Kenyan cases to be tried at The Hague as the judiciary will have undergone transformation in line with international best practices," said the minister.

"There is nothing else after that but the diplomacy that we are carrying out just exposes Kenya to international politics, which are murkier than the Kenyan politics," he added.

Mutula pointed out that there was no reason to expose the country to international politics when law-making option is available.

"Whereas I salute the president for taking up the matter at the AU summit, I would appeal to the two principals to also start citing the two bills in the international forums," he added.

"The Rome Statute was and still remains an international compromise but you must make your system to adhere to the best international practices in line with the Bangalore Principles of Judicial

Conduct 2002 then you will not require The Hague process," he added.

Mutula noted that his ministry was not worried with the diplomacy the government was engaged in adding that if they produce the required legislation then they will be able to compliment the diplomacy.