Go quietly, Karua tells Ocampo six

By Peter Opiyo

Gichugu MP, Martha Karua took a swipe at the Ocampo six urging them to go to The Hague quietly as the country is bigger than them.

She warned that Sh5 billion buried in the Supplementary budget and marked as ‘enhanced security’ should not be used to provide support for The Hague bound post-election violence suspects.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, one of the suspects, sat from across the dispatch box in Parliament where Karua made the hard-hitting statements.

"What is this enhanced security, is it the public rallies support for the Ocampo six?" she posed.

She said lest she is accused of rejoicing in other people’s misfortune, Karua recalled as Justice Minister she pleaded with MPs to endorse a local process but they said The Hague is the best option.

"Where did you vote? I stood before this House saying local tribunal is the best for the country, but you said let’s not be vague, let’s go to The Hague. Hague has come, take The Hague quietly," she said.

"Why are we quivering now, we signed up to Ocampo (ICC prosecutor)," she added.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been globetrotting drumming support from African countries and the UN Security Council for the deferral of the Kenyan case.

In the first phase of the shuttle diplomacy to lobby African Union, Kalonzo said Sh31 million was spent on the venture. The second phase hit a brick wall as the UN Security Council said it would not support the deferral bid.

Karua said it was unfortunate that the government has focused on the six yet thousands of Kenyans are facing starvation and IDPs are languishing in the camps, as public money is used on ‘the big boys’.

"This is a big boys club, never mind the ages of the big boys," said Karua.

The MP was incensed by the way the government is treating the six with kids gloves yet there are Kenyans renditioned to Uganda and the government is less concerned about them.

She blasted her fellow politicians of having short memory on what transpired on the road to The Hague, pointing out how both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga signed an agreement seeking the establishment of a local tribunal, only for the MPs to turn the move down.

"We can’t use money on such an illegal venture," she said in apparent reference to attempts by government to defer the cases.

Uhuru and Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, have habitually adopted weekend rallies to drum up support ahead of next week’s appearance at The Hague.

The other suspects are Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, Tinderet MP, Henry Kosgey, Postmaster General Hussein Ali and Kass FM Radio presenter Joshua Sang.

The government twice attempted to establish a local tribunal but the MPs objected to the move, saying a local process is prone to political manipulation by the powers that be.