Nairobi — The International Criminal Court should start investigations into last year's post-election violence by tomorrow, a Cabinet minister said on Thursday.

Expressing his frustration and that of the government over Parliament's failure to pass a law setting up a local tribunal, Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo said: "I hope that the trial chamber that has been set up at the ICC will authorise (ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-) Ocampo to commence investigations before Jamhuri Day."

Mr Kilonzo, who was speaking at Fort Jesus in Mombasa during the 61st celebrations to mark the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, said Kenyans should not wait to be taught how to respect their own human rights.

He said matters had been made worse by a Parliament that has been swift to frustrate the government's efforts to address past human rights abuses.