Skelemani confronts Uhuru on ICC then retracts statement.

[Wacha1]

Ni aibu kumchagua mtu mwenye tuhuma za kuua raia. Tamaa ya madaraka ... .... na ukabila ndio unawamaliza Manyang'au.

 

[Smatta]

...and 60% of their labour force is Kenyan. Couldn't ignore how fast he retracted his statement, I think he had had too much to drink.

 

[Prisoner 46664]

Ulidhani Botswana ni sawa na Tanzania?

Na wewe pia ungejua jibu la swali nililouliza ungejibu badala ya kuuliza swali pia..now be a man and answer this: what does Botswana supply to kenya that it cant live without?!?

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Hivi kama ICC ikimtuta Kenyatta na makosa.. halafu akihukumiwa je atafungwa wapi wakati ni raisi??

 

[Prisoner 46664]

Us sio signarory wa mkataba wa Rome,so hapo kwa ICC ni irrelevant

@Ben Saanane
On May 6, 2002, the United States, in a position shared with Israel and Sudan, signed the Rome Statute but formally withdrew its intent of ratification.
Positions in the United States concerning the ICC vary widely. The Clinton Administration signed the Rome Statute in 2000, but did not submit it for Senate ratification. The Bush Administration, the US administration at the time of the ICC's founding, stated that it would not join the ICC. The Obama Administration has subsequently re-established a working relationship with the court.

The Obama Administration has stated its intent to cooperate with the International Criminal Court. Cooperation with the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC is a key component of the Obama Administration's first National Security Strategy. On November 16, 2009, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, Stephen Rapp, announced that he would lead the U.S. delegation to the ICC's annual meeting of the Assembly of States Parties in The Hague. He told journalists "Our government has now made the decision that Americans will return to engagement at the ICC." The U.S. participated as an observer. This was the first time the U.S.A. had a delegation attend the ICC's annual meeting of the Assembly.

...unadhani ni kwanini US inataka kuplay role ya persecutor kwenye hii court?!..na walisign na ku-revoke baadaye..hii ni kwa sababu hii ni court ya viongozi wa Africa pekee..which can not be acceptable given the extent of crimes against humanity which US leaders have committed to the rest of the world.

 

[Kiranga]

Botswana’s Foreign Affairs minister Phandu Skelemani has made a U-turn on his ban on President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he is free to visit as he is innocent until proven guilty.

Mr Skelemani had earlier told the country’s daily Mmegi Mr Kenyatta must not set foot in his country if he refuses to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“This is to retract my earlier statement about the President-elect of Kenya. Mr Uhuru Kenyatta is more than welcome to visit Botswana.

“Botswana is cognisant of a section of the law that says one is innocent until proven guilty,” he said in a statement.

Mr Kenyatta is facing charges of crimes against humanity related to the 2008 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 people died.

His alleged co-perpetrators, Maj-Gen (rtd) Hussein Ali and former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura have been let of the hook for lack of evidence.

Mr Skelemani’s statement further said he appreciated Mr Kenyatta’s compliance with the ICC since the beginning of the hearings.

“I apologise to the Kenyan people for my earlier statement and wish to maintain that Kenya and Botswana have always worked together and nothing will change that,” he said.

Mr Skelemani wished Mr Kenyatta “all the best in the new responsibility of governing Kenya”.

Earlier, Kenya had described as “contemptuous” Mr Skelemani’s statement.

Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki told the Nation that Kenya, like Botswana, is a signatory to the Rome Statute and will continue to undertake its obligations but will not be bullied.

“The government finds the statement contemptuous. We know what is required of us and will continue to respect that position,” he said.

“Mr Kenyatta has been accused, but he is not guilty until proven otherwise. In fact, he has always attended ICC sessions without failure and is on record he would continue to do so,” Mr Kariuki said.

Botswana minister makes Uhuru ICC U-turn - Africa - nation.co.ke

Nilisema hapa kwamba kafanya "a rookie mistake". Sasa kakubali mwenyewe na kuomba radhi.

Ushamsikia Membe akiomba radhi? Mie sikumbuki. Hata baada ya kusema ana hakika na nyendo zote za wafanyakazi wote wa serikali ya Tanzania, a farce of quixotic burlesque.

Serikali ya Botswana ina cha kutufundisha hata pale inapokosea.

 

[Kabaridi]

Nilisema hapa kwamba kafanya "a rookie mistake". Sasa kakubali mwenyewe na kuomba radhi.

Ushamsikia Membe akiomba radhi? Mie sikumbuki. Hata baada ya kusema ana hakika na nyendo zote za wafanyakazi wote wa serikali ya Tanzania, a farce of quixotic burlesque.

Serikali ya Botswana ina cha kutufundisha hata pale inapokosea.

hapo ilibidi kuomba radhi, maana idle and counter-productive diplomatic statements can fcuk up a whole government. especially in africa

hafadhali wakuu serikalini watofautiane wenyewe kuliko na viongozi wengine za mataifa za nje

 

[EMT]

Na wewe pia ungejua jibu la swali nililouliza ungejibu badala ya kuuliza swali pia..now be a man and answer this: what does Botswana supply to kenya that it cant live without?!?

Whether or not there is such a supply, does it real matter?

 

[Prisoner 46664]

Whether or not there is such a supply, does it real matter?

Well, may be it doesn't...so it doesn't matter whether Uhuru gets allowed to visit Botswana or not..and therefore the tswanas should quit whining

 

[EMT]

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani, yesterday denied media claims that he had apologised to the government of Kenya for comments he made to Mmegi about that country's President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his International Criminal Court (ICC) case. "I have nothing to apologise for," he said.

Skelemani related how a certain Kenyan named Muriti had called him after the Mmegi report in which he asserted that Kenyatta should not set foot in Botswana if he does not cooperate with the ICC. Speaking fluent Setswana, Muriti asked Skelemani to apologise. "I told him that I was not apologising," Skelemani said.

He added that Muriti claimed to work in Kenyatta's office. "I have never spoken to the foreign press about Kenyatta," he insisted. "I wonder where the claim that I have apologised comes from".The Kenyan Daily Post first reported yesterday that the minister had apologised to the people of Kenya. Mmegi, along with other international news outlets such as the BBC, further reproduced the "official apology" that the Kenyan newspaper attributed to Skelemani.

Meanwhile, government issued a statement yesterday "to clarify a recent statement attributed to the Minister Phandu Skelemani on the question of the ICC and its processes".The government said the minister's statement relating to a hypothetical visit to Botswana by Kenya's President-elect was aimed at merely explaining the rules of the ICC and obligations of members of the court. "In this context, he indicated that as can be expected, any member of the court is bound by its rules," the statement said.

"Equally important is that all members of the court are obliged to uphold its rules, a principle that impels any member, including Botswana, to act to fulfill its obligations under the rules of the court." The government noted that Skelemani had indicated that the parties involved had not only pledged cooperation but had always cooperated with the ICC. "In other words, the Kenyan situation does not fall within the above scenario dealing with non-compliance with the court," the statement continued.

"Botswana, as a member of the ICC, will only act in accordance with the decisions of the court. "At the moment, no decision has been made on the Kenyan situation that would require Botswana to act. The strength of Botswana-Kenya relations is reflected in the long history of wide ranging cooperation between the two countries, as well as the fact that the two countries have resident missions in each other's capitals."

Source: Mmegi Online :: I never apologised - Skelemani

 

[EMT]

Nilisema hapa kwamba kafanya "a rookie mistake". Sasa kakubali mwenyewe na kuomba radhi.

Amesema kuwa hajawahi kuomba msamaha: https://www.jamiiforums.com/kenyan-...-i-never-apologised-to-the-govt-of-kenya.html

 

[EMT]

Well, may be it doesn't...so it doesn't matter whether Uhuru gets allowed to visit Botswana or not..and therefore the tswanas should quit whining

Whether or not Kenyatta gets allowed to enter Botswana does not bar that country from expressing its opinion.

It could be that we're used to reciprocate each other in Africa, so we're sort like surprised when one country breaches such unwritten code.

 

[Kiranga]

Amesema kuwa hajawahi kuomba msamaha: https://www.jamiiforums.com/kenyan-...-i-never-apologised-to-the-govt-of-kenya.html

Hahahaa,

Watswana wanachemsha.

The ground rule violated here remains speaking on hypotheticals and speculations. Nafurahi sana nikimsikia mtu kama Jay Carney akiletewa maswali ya uzushi anaposema "We do not comment on speculations". Huku Afrika hata hao Watswana wanaosifiwa, Waziri mwenyewe anajiingiza katika hypotheticals na speculations, muandishi hata hahitaji kumtarget!

Halafu hata huwezi kusema kwamba ni some spur of the moment thing, we all get carried away sometimes, especially when espousing orally from the top of our heads. I don't expect any FM to be fully eloquent all the time.That would be unfair. This guy has had time to reflect and consult. And he is adamant. Yaani Afrika mkubwa kusema nimekosea hapa ni kitu cha ajabu sana. Ndiyo maana nilitaka kumpa kudos sana kwa kukubali makosa.It turns out I was misinformed.

Wars have been started on less!

Wananikumbusha ile hadithi ya mtu aliyepigana na mkewe mpaka akaja kuamuliwa na majirani.

Majirani walipouliza "Mnapigania nini?"

Jamaa akasema, tulikuwa tunapanga maisha yetu, nikasema tutatumia hela zetu ndogo kununua kuku wa mayai, atataga mayai mengi tutanunua mbuzi, mbuzi atazaa watoto wengi tutanunua ng'ombe, ng'ombe atatoa maziwa tutauza na kupata ng'ombe wengi zaidi.

Kisha mke wangu akauliza "Nani atasafisha zizi?" Ukatokea mzozo wote tunasema mwingine ndiye atasafisha zizi.

Tumepigana juu ya hilo mpaka tumetoana ngeu sasa zile hela za kununulia kuku tutazitumia hospitali!

The moral of the story is, do not stretch hypotheticals to impede what is actual.

Accountants have a principle called "Realization", basically do not count your eggs before they are hatched.

Huyu Foreign Minister anaweza kuanzisha vita kwa ziara ya Uhuru ambayo pengine hata haipo mawazoni mwa Uhuru hata kama akiwa convicted.

It's one thing to stand for principles and uphold the authority of international courts, it is quite another to jump the gun and hypothesize on the hyperbolical rhetoric of what your foreign policy decision tree looks like 60 nods down the lane, in a manner that borders on violating "innocent until proven guilty" no less.

John Grisham ametwist msemo wa loose lips anasema "loose lips lose lawsuits", on top of sinking ships.

I might be stretching this for effect, lakini Kenyatta akipata some clever lawyers wanaweza kuingiza hili katika defence kwamba "there is an international conspiracy against my client, why, he is practically pronounced guilty until proven guilty by the government of Botswana!".

Kenyatta aendeleze "Jiu-Jitsu", weakness yake na strength ya maadui zake, case ya ICC, igeuke kuwa strength yake na weakness ya maadui zake.

 

[Geza Ulole]

Nationmedia, a defacto mouthpiece of UK

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani, yesterday denied media claims that he had apologised to the government of Kenya for comments he made to Mmegi about that country's President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his International Criminal Court (ICC) case. "I have nothing to apologise for," he said.

Skelemani related how a certain Kenyan named Muriti had called him after the Mmegi report in which he asserted that Kenyatta should not set foot in Botswana if he does not cooperate with the ICC. Speaking fluent Setswana, Muriti asked Skelemani to apologise. "I told him that I was not apologising," Skelemani said.

He added that Muriti claimed to work in Kenyatta's office. "I have never spoken to the foreign press about Kenyatta," he insisted. "I wonder where the claim that I have apologised comes from".The Kenyan Daily Post first reported yesterday that the minister had apologised to the people of Kenya. Mmegi, along with other international news outlets such as the BBC, further reproduced the "official apology" that the Kenyan newspaper attributed to Skelemani.

Meanwhile, government issued a statement yesterday "to clarify a recent statement attributed to the Minister Phandu Skelemani on the question of the ICC and its processes".The government said the minister's statement relating to a hypothetical visit to Botswana by Kenya's President-elect was aimed at merely explaining the rules of the ICC and obligations of members of the court. "In this context, he indicated that as can be expected, any member of the court is bound by its rules," the statement said.

"Equally important is that all members of the court are obliged to uphold its rules, a principle that impels any member, including Botswana, to act to fulfill its obligations under the rules of the court." The government noted that Skelemani had indicated that the parties involved had not only pledged cooperation but had always cooperated with the ICC. "In other words, the Kenyan situation does not fall within the above scenario dealing with non-compliance with the court," the statement continued.

"Botswana, as a member of the ICC, will only act in accordance with the decisions of the court. "At the moment, no decision has been made on the Kenyan situation that would require Botswana to act. The strength of Botswana-Kenya relations is reflected in the long history of wide ranging cooperation between the two countries, as well as the fact that the two countries have resident missions in each other's capitals."

Source: Mmegi Online :: I never apologised - Skelemani

Dah!...who is saying the truth now?

 

[MkamaP]

[h=1]Botswana apologises to Kenya over Kenyatta ICC warning[/h]

Uhuru Kenyatta is due to stand trial at The Hague in July
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Kenya Elections[/h]

• Faith restored
• Kenyatta and the ICC
• Kenyatta's challenges
• Tech hub drubbing

Botswana's foreign minister has apologised for saying that Kenya's newly elected president would be banned from the southern African nation if he refuses to co-operate with the ICC.
Phandu Skelemani made the apology after Kenya's government accused him of being contemptuous towards Uhuru Kenyatta.
The International Criminal Court has charged Mr Kenyatta with crimes against humanity.
He denies the charges and won the 4 March poll with an outright majority.
He got 50.07% of the vote compared to his rival Raila Odinga's 43.31%.
'Innocent until proven guilty' Mr Odinga has refused to accept defeat, saying the election was marred by fraud and is expected to file a petition challenging the result at Kenya's Supreme Court on Friday.
Continue reading the main story [h=2]"Start Quote[/h]

I apologise to the Kenyan people for my earlier statement and wish to maintain that Kenya and Botswana have always worked together and nothing will change that"
​

Phandu Skelemani Botswana's foreign minister
Analysts say the ICC case bolstered Mr Kenyatta's electoral chances, as voters saw it as interference in Kenya's domestic affairs.
He is due to stand trial in July, with the charges stemming from allegations that he helped orchestrate violence that erupted after the 2007 election.
Earlier this week, his lawyer, Steven Kay, called on the ICC to drop the case, saying the evidence against him was "utterly flawed".
Mr Kay made the call after ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda dropped charges against Mr Kenyatta's co-accused, Francis Muthaura, because a key witness had "recanted" his evidence and other witnesses were too scared to testify.
Mr Skelemani said he was retracting comments he made to Botswana's privately owned Mmegi newspaper following Mr Kenyatta's election victory.
"I apologise to the Kenyan people for my earlier statement and wish to maintain that Kenya and Botswana have always worked together and nothing will change that," he said, in a statement published in the Kenyan media.
"Mr Uhuru Kenyatta is more than welcome to visit Botswana. Botswana is cognisant of a section of the law that says one is innocent until proven guilty."
Earlier this week, Mr Skelemani was quoted by Mmegi as saying that Mr Kenyatta would not be allowed to "set foot" in Botswana if he refused to cooperate with the ICC.
"If he refuses to go [to The Hague], then we have a problem. That means that they do not know the rule of law," he is quoted as saying.
"You can't establish a court and refuse to go when it calls you."
In his response, Kenyan government spokesman Muthui Kariuki told the Nairobi-based Daily Nation newspaper that Kenya knew its international obligations but would not be bullied.
"The government finds the statement contemptuous," he is quoted as saying.
"Mr Kenyatta has been accused, but he is not guilty until proven otherwise. In fact, he has always attended ICC sessions without failure and is on record he would continue to do so," Mr Kariuki said.
Botswana has also warned Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged by the ICC with genocide, that he will be arrested if he visits Botswana.
He has denied the charge, but refuses to stand trial because Sudan does not recognise the ICC, saying it is a tool of Western powers.

source: BBC News - Botswana apologises to Kenya over Kenyatta ICC warning