1 July 2009
editorial
It is encouraging that the government has sent a unified delegation to Europe as part of ongoing discussions on the sensitive issue of trial and punishment for those responsible for the post-election violence.
A unified delegation means that we are no longer talking about ODM and PNU factions taking their feuds to the international platform.
But even as the government presents a unified case for a local tribunal instead of the International Criminal Court, individuals in that same government are publicly pushing different viewpoints.
From both ODM and PNU, there are leaders, including Cabinet ministers, who are agitating against the government policy. A unique coalition government such as we have was always bound to have robust internal debate.
However, a time comes when it is imperative to distinguish between healthy expression of dissenting views and open defiance.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga have clearly stated their preference for a local tribunal.
The delegation dispatched to meet with former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Geneva and also to visit the International Criminal Court at The Hague is charged with securing a deadline extension so that the statute for a local tribunal can have a second go in Parliament.
The proposed law was thrown out the first time, and the government hopes it can secure a majority for a fresh attempt, failing which the list of suspected perpetrators will be forwarded to the ICC for action.
No majority will be secured, however, if powerful forces are actively agitating against a local tribunal. This is the time to call the bluff. The government must whip its ministers and MPs into line on this issue.
If it is unable to enforce discipline within its ranks, then the only option will be to abandon the local tribunal idea and adopt The Hague option. And with that it must commit itself to arrest and hand over to The Hague all the suspects in its ranks.
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Mr. William Ruto, Soon and very soon you will be held to account. It does not matter about the dance you perform and no matter who you try to intimidate and spin your warped sense of right and wrong, you will account for your sins. You are the stumbling block to justice in Kenya and your actions are the ones causing tension in Kenya. Precisely, Mr. Ruto what are you hiding and do you think you are fooling anybody.
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