Kenya Rejects Britain ICC offer

Nairobi, Kenya: Britain has received a cold reception from Kenya to its proposal that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto attend their trials at The Hague through video links.

And in Parliament, the Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations Ndung’u Gethenji (Tetu) Tuesday got the nod from National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi for MPs go into an emergency sitting to discuss the mode and status of Uhuru’s trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Britain’s proposed amendment is being interpreted as designed to scupper Kenya’s backing of the African Union push for immunity from prosecution for sitting heads of state.

The tough line by Kenya signals a confrontational stance between the country and Britain at the ICC conference today.

But the British High Commission in Nairobi refused to be drawn into the issue.

“You are still harking back to last week and we have moved on,” said John Bradshaw, head of communications at the British High Commission in Nairobi. “I can only confirm that we are tabling the amendment at the ASP on video conferencing and we hope that all parties will consider the amendments constructively,” Bradshaw added.

In Government circles the proposal is seen as an attempt to torpedo Kenya’s quest to stop the trial of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC.

“No one wants what the British are offering. No one asked them to present it and they should keep it to themselves because that is not what Kenya and Africa are taking to the State Parties meeting,” a top official said on condition of anonymity Tuesday.

“When Kenya sought Britain’s help at the UNSC, they not only declined but also incited Guatemala and Argentina to ensure Africa didn’t get the nine votes,” claimed the Kenyan official.

Britain, which is among the eight UNSC members that abstained from the vote that sank Kenya’s deferral request, has proposed an amendment so Uhuru and Ruto are not required to be present in The Hague courtrooms.

“A number of amendments have been tabled, including one by the United Kingdom on presence through video technology,” Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of Britain told the UNSC on Friday, while explaining that the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute meeting is the right forum to address Kenya’s concerns.

The ICC has also made arrangements for a possible trial without the Kenyan leaders being physically present at The Hague.

“Additionally, in the Kenya cases Chambers envisage having the accused follow the hearings via video teleconferencing (VTC) from Nairobi,” provided the 2014 ICC budget proposal is approved at the conference next week, says Britain.

Its proposal is seen as a spoiler by Kenya as it waters down an earlier protest against having the two leaders confined in The Hague courtroom and can divide the 122 members.

-standard digital

this is a movie am willing to watch in 3D, maybe see some of the things i missed along the way, #tough times ahead, for the president and Kenya, but moreso the presidency, #tough decisions will be made. lets see who blinks first.

Criminals seeking justice in a criminal way?

Sample Comments:

First, Kenya is rejecting UK's proposal because the UK refused to vote for the deferral rather than because of the merits of the proposal? Our diplomats & leaders' advisers are behaving more like petulant children.


Second, the intended amendment that excuses heads of state from appearing in court defeats the purpose of the ICC. Over the past few years, most crimes against humanity have been caused by the sitting presidents or prime ministers. Whether it was Charles Taylor or Laurent Gbagbo or Slobodan Milosevic or the genocidal regime in Rwanda, the purveyors of these crimes have often been the national political leaders. All this garbage about immunity is getting nowhere, if it does, they had better shut down the ICC.

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Imagine a world were we can't seek judicial redress against say - Idi Amin, Bokassa, Charles Taylor, Al Bashir, Pol Pot, Milosevic, Hitler, Pinochet, Mobutu, etc etc...All because they have wide ranging "presidential immunity"...Then what next??? - I'll tell you what next 'Civil Action' - CIVIL WAR!!!!...So would it NOT be prudent to say that our Jubilee govt seeks to return our Africa to the dark days of persistent, rampant and devastating CIVIL WARS!!!!????


What other mitigating options are there for us short of judicial redress, considering the ICC was our "mitigation blanket" - our court of last resort, for exactly the purpose against presidents like Mr Al Bashir who have no qualms "dispatching-off" a racial pogrom, against his own people.....



WHAT DOES JUBILEE GOVT PROPOSE TO THE ASP AND PARTICULARLY THE AFRICANS FORUM IN IT, ON HOW TO MITIGATE AGAINST A "MURDEROUS" SITTING PRESIDENT AFTER THEIR IMMUNITY PROPOSAL??? - Short of forceful ejection!!!

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Do you guys understand the meaning of the word sitting?

Dhuks said:

Do you guys understand the meaning of the word sitting?

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to juxtapose oneself to a chair bro, hehe.
or
ruling current presidents of a republic.

am eager to see where this debate with bazungu ends, i support Uhuru Kenyatta on abstinence to the hague as a supreme leader in Kenia, but am just not quite sure of the ramifications to expect concerning this diplomatic onslaught we warming up to. The concerted effort to go it all in, "no holds barred", might be counter productive or we may just get lucky.

I think UK should to to the Hague and prove his innocence in front of the entire world and permanently put this matter to rest. I believe the prosecution has a weak evidence and therefore don't have a strong case. The fact that UK is still dillydallying with this issue, it gives the prosecution something to talk about and it raises a lot of questions as to why he's afraid to face the judge. I wonder if UK's advisers have the balls to tell him that the more he enters into a war of words with ICC, the more his reputation suffers.

kama hawajafanya makosa, kwanini wanaiogopa ICC?

Dhuks said:

Do you guys understand the meaning of the word sitting?

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And your point is...?

SHERRIF ARPAIO said:

I think UK should to to the Hague and prove his innocence in front of the entire world and permanently put this matter to rest. I believe the prosecution has a weak evidence and therefore don't have a strong case. The fact that UK is still dillydallying with this issue, it gives the prosecution something to talk about and it raises a lot of questions as to why he's afraid to face the judge. I wonder if UK's advisers have the balls to tell him that the more he enters into a war of words with ICC, the more his reputation suffers.

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The man is guilty!

Dr. Job said:

The man is guilty!

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Those are very harsh words, sir!!

SHERRIF ARPAIO said:

I think UK should to to the Hague and prove his innocence in front of the entire world and permanently put this matter to rest. I believe the prosecution has a weak evidence and therefore don't have a strong case. The fact that UK is still dillydallying with this issue, it gives the prosecution something to talk about and it raises a lot of questions as to why he's afraid to face the judge. I wonder if UK's advisers have the balls to tell him that the more he enters into a war of words with ICC, the more his reputation suffers.

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Bro,,Sis,,you are,,quite,,, behind:smile-big:,,,,we are talking in terms of,,video conferencing,,
postponement of the case for a year or do away,,,completely with it,,and not that
talk of,,,eti,,he he he he,,,president Uhuru Kenyatta flying in his presidential jet to
Hague and answer some trumped up charges,,at that damning Hague.

Then,,it get even funnier,,that the prosecution case is weak,,,that he should just
go and prove,,,what,,to who????

No need to go there,,whether innocent nor guilty.

How can you go prove innocence to hyenas in the name of
the British and Americans,,the greatest devils of all devils.

How many atrocities did they commit in this world,,,and here,,they
put up some stupid court,,,that damning ICC to take care of atrocities
committed in Africa,,

Why did they refuse that idea of video conferencing when the president
and DP,,applied for it.

Their very old game of divide and rule,,that outdated formula of theirs,,
can be seen as clear as glass.

Now,,after doing what they did,,at the UN,,,the British goes to ASP,,,removes
the African Union agenda,,from the program,,,and just like thugs they have been,,,
insert their own recommendation of video conferencing,,without informing Kenya nor
the AU,,thus,,,, try to hoodwink Kenya and put a wedge between this and other African
states.

It will never happen,,at this age and time.

Video conferencing is not a bad idea,,,but we smell a rat,,,somewhere,,why now
when they never wanted to hear of it??????

Let Kenya close those stupid bases in Kenya,,we do not want them,,,let chase
those stupid high commissioners from our country,,,let us close all engagements
with these good for nothing eti,,friends when they rape us from,,behind.

They better up,,their game and not those old and stupid formulas of divide and
rule.

If the want to engage with any body,,they better do that with,,AU,, and not
Kenya.

Jammu Africa said:

Bro,,Sis,,you are,,quite,,, behind:smile-big:,,,,we are talking in terms of,,video conferencing,,
postponement of the case for a year or do away,,,completely with it,,and not that
talk of,,,eti,,he he he he,,,president Uhuru Kenyatta flying in his presidential jet to
Hague and answer some trumped up charges,,at that damning Hague.

Then,,it get even funnier,,that the prosecution case is weak,,,that he should just
go and prove,,,what,,to who????

No need to go there,,whether innocent nor guilty.

How can you go prove innocence to hyenas in the name of
the British and Americans,,the greatest devils of all devils.

How many atrocities did they commit in this world,,,and here,,they
put up some stupid court,,,that damning ICC to take care of atrocities
committed in Africa,,

Why did they refuse that idea of video conferencing when the president
and DP,,applied for it.

Their very old game of divide and rule,,that outdated formula of theirs,,
can be seen as clear as glass.

Now,,after doing what they did,,at the UN,,,the British goes to ASP,,,removes
the African Union agenda,,from the program,,,and just like thugs they have been,,,
insert their own recommendation of video conferencing,,without informing Kenya nor
the AU,,thus,,,, try to hoodwink Kenya and put a wedge between this and other African
states.

It will never happen,,at this age and time.

Video conferencing is not a bad idea,,,but we smell a rat,,,somewhere,,why now
when they never wanted to hear of it??????

Let Kenya close those stupid bases in Kenya,,we do not want them,,,let chase
those stupid high commissioners from our country,,,let us close all engagements
with these good for nothing eti,,friends when they rape us from,,behind.

They better up,,their game and not those old and stupid formulas of divide and
rule.

If the want to engage with any body,,they better do that with,,AU,, and not
Kenya.

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I'd agree with you had UK never been to the Hague before.......

[video=youtube_share;B18I5eFjGQg]http://youtu.be/B18I5eFjGQg[/video]

Do you really know how humiliating it is to have a person as powerful as the president of the republic on the dock. It will be like the whole country getting grilled. That's why I am for ICC deferring cases even for ten years. As long as the two principals are still in those powerful positions.

ivibration said:

Do you really know how humiliating it is to have a person as powerful as the president of the republic on the dock. It will be like the whole country getting grilled. That's why I am for ICC deferring cases even for ten years. As long as the two principals are still in those powerful positions.

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I get your point, sir. It's humiliating for a president, and even a big embarrassment to the wananchi watching their head of state testifying or getting grilled by a prosecutor in the court room.
The question I have for you: Can UK testify in a closed door??

Jammu Africa said:

Bro,,Sis,,you are,,quite,,, behind:smile-big:,,,,we are talking in terms of,,video conferencing,,
postponement of the case for a year or do away,,,completely with it,,and not that
talk of,,,eti,,he he he he,,,president Uhuru Kenyatta flying in his presidential jet to
Hague and answer some trumped up charges,,at that damning Hague.

Then,,it get even funnier,,that the prosecution case is weak,,,that he should just
go and prove,,,what,,to who????

No need to go there,,whether innocent nor guilty.

How can you go prove innocence to hyenas in the name of
the British and Americans,,the greatest devils of all devils.

How many atrocities did they commit in this world,,,and here,,they
put up some stupid court,,,that damning ICC to take care of atrocities
committed in Africa,,

Why did they refuse that idea of video conferencing when the president
and DP,,applied for it.

Their very old game of divide and rule,,that outdated formula of theirs,,
can be seen as clear as glass.

Now,,after doing what they did,,at the UN,,,the British goes to ASP,,,removes
the African Union agenda,,from the program,,,and just like thugs they have been,,,
insert their own recommendation of video conferencing,,without informing Kenya nor
the AU,,thus,,,, try to hoodwink Kenya and put a wedge between this and other African
states.

It will never happen,,at this age and time.

Video conferencing is not a bad idea,,,but we smell a rat,,,somewhere,,why now
when they never wanted to hear of it??????

Let Kenya close those stupid bases in Kenya,,we do not want them,,,let chase
those stupid high commissioners from our country,,,let us close all engagements
with these good for nothing eti,,friends when they rape us from,,behind.

They better up,,their game and not those old and stupid formulas of divide and
rule.

If the want to engage with any body,,they better do that with,,AU,, and not
Kenya.

Click to expand...

Are you aware of the economic ramifications that Kenya might face if things get even uglier with those you accuse? What's the number one source of Forex for the Kenyan economy?