CORD principal Raila Odinga (right) flanked by Budalangi MP Ababu
Namwamba (centre) and Moses Wetangula addresses a news conference after a
parliamentary group meeting at Wetangula's residence on September 16
2013. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL
The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord)
has told President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, who are
facing crimes against humanity charges at The Hague, not to fear if they
believe they are innocent.
Cord principals Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang’ula also led the coalition members of the National Assembly and Senators in wishing President Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang a fair trial.
The Cord leaders, who were speaking to journalists after the coalition’s Parliamentary Group meeting, also criticised efforts to pull Kenya from the Rome Statute.
“One must wonder whether the spectacle of compromising witnesses and scampering to sabotage ICC is indeed a manifestation of innocence,” the leaders said in a statement read by Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba after the meeting at Mr Wetangula’s home in Karen, Nairobi. Cord’s statement came as Mr Ruto left for The Hague where his trial together with that of Mr Sang starts Tuesday.
Several witnesses have withdrawn from the case with ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda saying some of them might have been compromised.
“Cord wishes the accused Kenyans a fair and just trial and hope that the victims will find justice,” said Mr Namwamba adding that the coalition was “strongly opposed to the Jubilee-driven short-sighted move” to pull Kenya from the Rome Statute.
He said the move was a cynical agenda by the “very well-known agents of impunity” to roll back the country’s gains in fight against entrenched impunity.
“The move is manifestly myopic, selfish and big shame on Kenya as an
otherwise respectable member of the international community,’’ he said.
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