Human rights groups fault MPs on plans to raise funds for ICC suspects

Updated 18 hr(s) 52 min(s) ago

BY BEAUTTAH OMANGA
Several human rights groups have opposed plans by some MPs to raise about Sh600million towards the defence of the six Kenyans facing International Crimes charges at The Hague.
The groups and Prof Yash Pal Ghai said it will be immoral to use State resources to boost the battle of the six suspects when the case commences at The Hague.
"Those out to raise funds are confirming that they don’t care about the Kenyans who were killed during the chaos and they want to defend criminality" said Ngujiri Wambugu, Convener Kenyans for Change.
They also criticised Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s pledge to stand by ODM’s members in the list.
Another group comprising of victims of the violence drawn from Nairobi said they were watching keenly on how the ICC process will be handled saying some of the suspects who fuelled their predicament were still left to loam freely in the country.
Set freeThe Prof Ghai team while addressing a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday said the ICC process should run full course and those found guilty jailed while those who will be proved innocent set free.
" As a country, we need reconciliation but we cannot achieve that without first getting the truth of what happened and who did what" said Ghai.
He accused MPs of dragging their feet on the implementation of the new constitution saying some leaders’ conduct and utterances were a confirmation that they wanted to retain impunity in the face of the new constitution.
" We are four months into the operations of the new constitution but it is distressing to see the manner our leaders are conducting themselves. We must have in place the implementation and Revenue Allocation Commissions in place as a matter of urgency’ said Prof Ghai.