EAC wants Kenya’s post election violence cases tried in Arusha

[nngu007]

East African Deputy Secretary General, in-charge of political federation, Hon Beatrice Kiraso has suggested that the Arusha-based East African Court of Justice should handle Kenya's post election violence cases instead of the Hague-based ICC.

"The Internationa Criminal Court had no right to interfere with Kenya's internal affairs matters knowing very well that the country is a member of a recognized regional body which has a fully fledges judicial jurisdiction," said Ms Kiraso adding that the East African Court of Justice, operating from Arusha was fully equipped to handle all matters interpreted under the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC.

"Our treaty covers everything that the ICC is using to raise a case against so Kenyan individuals. EACJ is fully equipped as well as mandated to deal with such issues," stated Ms Kiraso pointing out that it was high time the international communities started to respect local community organizations being set up in Africa.

"The treaty for the establishment of the East African Community addresses issues related to rules of law, human rights, good governance and conflict resolutions and the EACJ is mandated to deal
with all matters arising from them, so what is the logic to let the ICC in the Hague to deal with
Kenya's political violence instead of having these cases sent to EACJ in Arusha?" asked the EAC-DSG.

She however admitted that there were indeed some Kenyans who felt the ICC would be more rational and fair in handling the cases other than having a national tribunal but pointed out that with EACJ things would be different.

Kenyans haven't exactly been trusting other EAC member countries when it came to their own conflicts saying that with exception of Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete and his Predecessor Benjamin Mkapa who took the pains to solve the Kenya's post election conflicts in 2008 the other neighboring states seemed to take sides with conflicting parties.

To which Ms Kiraso responds, "I think even the other leaders were as concerned as Tanzania's only misunderstood; take President Kagame for instance he had called for millitary intervention because it was quite clear that some armed forces in Kenya were also taking sides and in fact, it is time we have a special regional millitary force to address issues like this in future," she said.

Fransics Muthaura
Uhuru Kenyatta