Saturday, 24 October 2015

Kenya makes another UN bid to save Ruto


Prosecuting Deputy President William Ruto threatens Kenya's peace and security, the government argues in its latest offensive against the ICC.

In a new letter to the United Nations Security Council, President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee administration said the ICC charges against the DP undermine political stability not only in Kenya, but also in the Horn of Africa

In a twin assault on The-Hague based court, Kenya and the African Union are demanding immediate deferral of the case.
“The case at the ICC continues to pose serious serious political and social distractions within Kenya and by extension, continues to undermine the immediate and long-term political stability of Kenya, and threatens that of the sub-region of Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa,” the Kenyan letter said.
Attached to the letter sent on Tuesday is a petition signed by 190 lawmakers condemning ICC investigations in Kenya. They request an audit into how Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda secured witnesses against Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang. There are numerous accusations of procuring false witnesses to 'fix' Ruto.

The two are charged as indirect co-perpetrators of crimes against humanity in connection with the 2007-08 post-election violence.

The renewed diplomatic vigour to extricate Ruto from the ICC is widely interpreted as a signal President Uhuru and the Jubilee administration have been stung by claims they are not doing enough to 'save' his second in command.

Earlier this week, the AU submitted a 20-page document opposing the ICC decision to use prior recorded testimony against the DP — a potentially damaging move that sent shock waves through the DP's inner circle. Witnesses have recanted or withdrawn.

In Kenya's letter to the Security Council, her UN Ambassador Marcharia Kamau protested the ICC and Assembly of States Parties had turned a deaf ear to reasonable appeals.
“Kenya regrets to inform the Council that the concerns of Kenya, and indeed the African Union, on this matter remain unresolved to date,” the letter stated
This is not the first time Kenya and the AU have requested the Security Council defer the ICC trials.

A similar request failed in 2013, splitting the 15-member council.

Seven members, including China and Russia, voted in favor, and eight abstained, including Britain, France and the United States.

However, in 2013 Kenya's relationship with West was at its lowest after the US warned voters against electing indictees Uhuru and Ruto. Charges against Uhuru were dropped late last year,

The relationship has rebounded, with US President Barack Obama visiting Kenya in July.

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