Kenyans living in the US on March 9, 2011 participate in a peaceful demonstration outside the UN headquarters as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka argued for deferral of the post-election violence cases. Photo/COURTESY
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 protesters asked for the speedy trial of the cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and described the deferral campaign as a waste of energy and taxpayers’ money.
“We want justice!” the demonstrators chanted. “We support the ICC!”
Many of the demonstrators held poster-size photos showing injuries and maimings suffered by victims of the violence that the Ocampo Six are said to have instigated.
“We want to show our concern that the IDPs [internally displaced persons] not be forgotten,” said Peter Kerre, lead organiser of the half-day protest. Thousands of Kenyans have still not been resettled and continue living in camps more than three years after being forced from their homes in the turmoil following the disputed 2007 election.
About 1,500 Kenyans were killed in that tribal-based violence as well.
The protest in a park across the street from the UN’s New York headquarters took place as the Vice President held meetings with diplomats from some of the countries with seats on the 15-member Security Council.
Mr Musyoka is seeking council support for a government plea to cede jurisdiction over the six cases to a Kenya-based tribunal that the government promises to create. But at least some council members appear unwilling to strip the Hague-based International Criminal Court of its authority over this matter.
Text Messages
Kenya’s UN mission in New York did not respond to the Nation’s requests for an interview with Mr Musyoka on Tuesday.
Mr Kerre, the protest leader, said he has passed on to the New York Police Department a series of text messages he received in recent days warning that his life is in danger.
The threats were linked to his protest organising efforts, Mr Kerre said.
As Mr Kalonzo 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.
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.
According to the VP’s office, Mr Ban urged Kenyans to move fast and put in place a local judicial process since ICC was a court of last resort.
A statement from Mr Ban’s office said “they discussed the forthcoming CEB meeting in Kenya and issues relating to the United Nations headquarters office in Nairobi. They also discussed the International Criminal Court process related to the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya.”
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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