Elders welcome decision to drop ICC charges against President Uhuru Kenyatta

The Kirinyaga Council of Elders has praised the International Criminal Court's (ICC) move to terminate the charges against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Together with Chairman Bernard Kathanga, the elders also demanded that Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda drop charges facing Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.

Addressing a press conference at the Kagio Market Hotel Sunday, the elders claimed the ICC relied on evidence provided to the prosecution by partisan NGOs.

The elders also wondered why the other suspects named in the Waki envelope have remained secret to date.

Mr Kathanga said in order for the country to move on following the termination of Uhuru's case, a local mechanism to investigate who was responsible for the 2007/2008 post-election violence should be set up.

At the same time, the elders said they were saddened by the passing on of former Kanu supremo Joseph Kamotho. The elders described Kamotho as Kanu's most loyal party defender.

"Kamotho stood up to be counted in central Kenya as an ardent Kanu supporter even when the party became unpopular in the region," Kathanga said.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, has said the ICC must evaluate the prosecution's evidence against Ruto, as the credibility of witnesses was questionable.

He alleged inconsistencies.

"There are no proven facts against DP Ruto, just as it was in President Uhuru Kenyatta's case," Linturi said, adding that the decision to terminate the case, was long overdue.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's assertion that he was innocent of the charges, has been vindicated after Bensouda withdrew the charges, he said.