Tumain
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 28, 2009
- 3,154
- 71
Local tribunal
Borrowing from the Bible, Machage said just like it happened to two brothers when one killed another and veined ignorance, only for God to remind the killer that his blood was crying for justice, the same case was applying locally.
"Those killed during the clashes have their blood crying for help from the MPs. This is the time for Kenyan to know who their leaders are and what they stand for," said Dr Machage.
Moving the Bill, Imanyara said, even though he was the initiator, he had received input from million of Kenyans who were banking on the MPs decision to establish a local tribunal to try other suspects besides those to be tried at The Hague. The three MPs said the Bill was not targeting any individual but a means to have criminals in the post election violence punished.
They said Kenya has suffered immensely through official impunity; a culture they said will only be addressed if the Bill was passed. Imanyara said the Bill meets all the international standards and will see justice to all. The MPs said the Bill would see all the victims compensated in a more structured manner and that it will strictly be above any attempts to influence its decisions.
Among those absent from the Chamber were Rift Valley MPs. Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto told reporters at Parliament Buildings the House would not pass the Bill.
Although Ruto skirted queries why MPs absented themselves from the House on the second day after resumption from a two-month break, he alluded to a plot to boycott the Bill.
"Its not Parliament that lacked MPs. It is the Bill that did not raise quorum," he said.
"This Bill has been recycled so many times. Parliament cannot be asked the same question all the time. We made it clear we are not interested in this Bill."
Ruto wondered how the legislation was expected to garner the requisite majority if it could not even raise quorum. The MP claimed consultations were only held out of Parliament, alleging MPs were not involved.
"This Bill has blessings of certain elements in Government," he said.
"We want to strengthen existing institutions," Ruto said, saying the clamour for a tribunal should be abandoned.
Asked whether he stood for post-election trials to be conducted by the ICC, he responded: "If you want an external body to take over these cases, then the current Government must resign because its an indictment its not in charge."
He said if the ICC must step in, it must take full charge and investigate even "main beneficiaries" of the power struggle.
