Emeka-Mayaka Gekara
9 March 2011
New York — Dozens of Kenyans living in America on Tuesday held a peaceful demonstration outside the UN headquarters as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka argued for deferral of the post-election violence cases.
The demonstration was timed to coincide with Mr Musyoka’s meeting with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.
Waving pictures of the post-election violence, the protesters asked for the speedy trial of the cases at the International Criminal Court and described the deferral campaign as a waste of energy and taxpayers’ money.
As the Vice-President put up his case, the protesters said a prayer and sang the national anthem outside the UN offices before presenting their petition to the Kenyan mission to New York.
“The government should stop misusing money in this futile campaign. The money should be used to resettle the violence victims and create jobs for the youth,” said Ms Daphine Ogega, one of the organisers.
However, a group opposed to the protest is said to have offered $250 to buy possible demonstrators out of it.
“We were joined by citizens of other African countries and as we were chanting, we were overwhelmed to hear that the ICC judges had summoned the suspects,” Ms Ogega told Nation.co.ke from New York.
“We must stand strong against efforts to defeat justice for the violence victims,” said Beatrice Ruto, in support of the protest.
President Mwai Kibaki, flanked at a rally by two leaders facing indictment, William Ruto, left, and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Quest
According to the Mr Musyoka’s press service, his delegation briefed Mr Ban on Kenya’s quest to put in place a local judicial process to try the suspects.
The VP also indicated that Kenya was determined to handle the violence cases following the enactment of a new Constitution that has set a strong foundation for reforms in the judiciary.
“Whether through deferral by the UN Security Council or by directly applying to the ICC under article 19 of the Rome Statute, we are eager to close that chapter in our recent history at home, by obtaining justice for the victims and healing the nation,” said the VP.
ICC judges have summoned Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, head of civil service Francis Muthaura and Eldoret North MP William Ruto to the Hague over possible charges relating to the 2008 atrocities.
Others are suspended Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgei, former police commissioner Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua Sang.
Mr Ban urged Kenyans to move fast and put in place a local judicial process since ICC was a court of last resort.
Mr Musyoka’s delegation comprising Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei, East Africa Cooperation Minister Prof Helen Sambili and Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae held discussions on Kenya’s ICC cases deferral request, the situation in Somalia and a post referendum in South Sudan with United States UN envoy Susan Rice as well as the UN representatives from France and United Kingdom.
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Read more from the original source:
Kenya: New York Protesters Call for Speedy Hague Trial