The Media Council Bill 2013 was published on July 23 by the Leader of Majority Party Aden Duale. FILE
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Monday, September 02, 2013
A motion has been lined up in Parliament calling for Kenya’s
withdrawal from the Rome Statute that established the International
Criminal Court.
Coming days before Deputy President
William Ruto’s appearance at The Hague next week to face charges of
crimes against humanity, the action might have a bearing on whether Mr
Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta — whose case is set for November —will
honour summonses by the ICC.
Leader of Majority Aden
Duale told a fund-raising meeting that Jubilee would use its numbers in
Parliament to ensure the motion sails through.
“I know
I will get the necessary support from fellow MPs to pass the motion and
sign Kenya out of the Rome Statute so that we can have our freedom
back,” he said.
He said MPs, Senators and Governors
allied to Jubilee also planned to hold countrywide prayer rallies for Mr
Kenyatta and Mr Ruto.
“It is time we used a political
solution to deal with this issue. Jubilee will use its numbers to end
Kenya’s relationship with the ICC,” said Kericho Senator Charles Keter.
The
leaders said President Kenyatta would personally lead the prayer
rallies during Mr Ruto’s trial, which starts next Tuesday. Mr Kenyatta’s
trial start on November 12.
“As soon as Mr Ruto leaves
for The Hague, the rallies will start under the direction of President
Kenyatta and when the Deputy President returns, he will take over as Mr
Kenyatta leaves for The Hague,” said Mr Duale, the Garissa Town MP.
The
Jubilee leaders, who included Kericho County Women representative
Hellen Chepkwony and MPs Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), Kimani
Ichungwa (Kikuyu), Kanini Kega (Kieni) and Erick Keter (Belgut)
dismissed claims by Cord alliance leaders that there would be a power
vacuum during the trials.
“When Ruto is at The Hague,
the President and Parliament will work together and when President
Kenyatta goes, Mr Ruto will be in charge. The rest can watch from a
distance,” said Mr Duale.
He said about 100 MPs would
accompany Mr Ruto, with 30 legislators from the Senate and National
Assembly flying out of the country each week to offer him support.“We
will also debate the ICC issue every day when Mr Ruto is away and
disclose to Kenyans who the ‘owners’ of the ICC are and give the names
of those who are behind the case,” he said.
Mr Keter
said it was not a coincidence that calls for a referendum to change the
constitution started just as Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta were preparing to
attend the trials, saying it was a ploy by Cord leaders to undermine the
popularity of the two leaders while they are away.
The
leaders spoke as the ICC announced it would hold a status conference on
President Kenyatta’s case this Friday. The President is not required to
attend the conference in person.
The ICC has also
scheduled a press conference on the eve of Mr Ruto’s trial to clarify
any issues related to the cases facing him and former radio presenter
Joshua Sang.
Mr Kenyatta faces charges of murder,
deportation or forcible transfer of populations, rape, persecution and
other inhumane acts while Mr Ruto and Mr Sang face charges of murder,
deportation or forcible transfer of population and persecution.