Inside the stalled Cabinet talks

By Standard Team

During the Cabinet meeting Tuesday, PNU reportedly insisted it wants a local tribunal to be headed by Chief Justice and trials to be conducted through national institutions.

Others argued Kenya is a sovereign State and should not take orders from outsiders.

Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno is said to have led the onslaught against the formation of a local tribunal saying it would create more chaos.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti is said to have reminded his colleagues what happened to Kanu and take international community seriously.

No escape

Saitoti appealed to his colleagues to stop demonising Annan, saying his experience had taught him that people like Annan are so networked that by the time they take a position, the entire world is behind them.

Saitoti reportedly said his view was the international community was on Kenya’s case just as it were during push for multipartism and Kenya would not escape. Other ministers reasoned that the fighting is over and politicians who once fought each other are now sharing one Cabinet table.

Some are said to have supported The Hague saying it takes forever, and that in Congo and Uganda, after decades of war, only about four people have been charged.

A minister who was in the delegation that signed an agreement with Ocampo argued the Government had signed an agreement that the special tribunal must borrow from the international principles of ICC.