Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on MPs to approve a motion to withdraw from the ICC
TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has formally asked MPs to
approve laws to pull Kenya out of the International Criminal Court's
founding Rome statute, as he hits the campaign trail ahead of the 2017
election.
In September 2013, a Kenyan parliamentary vote supported the
government's proposal to withdraw from the ICC, but the African nation
was plunged into a political crisis when six Kenyans – including
Kenyatta – were charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged
leading roles in 2007-2008 post-election violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and forced 600,000 from their homes.
But on 19 April, ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah reminded
Kenya it has the legal obligation to fully cooperate with the ICC
including for the implementation of arrest warrants. El Abdallah warned
the government might face penalties if it fails to hand over three
suspects – Walter Barasa, Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett – wanted
by the court on charges of obstructing the course of justice in the case against Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.
Kenyatta: 'No other Kenyan will go to the ICC'
The penalty threats come three days after
Kenyatta vowed that no other "Kenyan would go to the ICC"
at a rally at Nakuru's Afraha Stadium, adding that he would
fast-track the process of withdrawing the country from the court.
"I will not allow any other Kenyan to be tried in a foreign
country. My solemn vow is that never again will the country fight over
political rivalry. The ICC and Hague chapter is closed permanently and
those who benefited should know that we are now a very peaceful and
God-fearing country," Kenyatta told the crowd during the rally.
A
man celebrates in Nairobi city centre on December 5, 2014, after the
International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor dropped crimes against
humanity charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Hague
John Muchucha/AFP/Getty Images
"It
has been nine short years of the journey to healing. We have renewed
our national covenant to live peacefully and we are fully aware that we
wronged each other. We have forgiven each other. It's now time to heal
our wounds, then we compensate the remaining IDPs (Internally Displaced
Persons)."
Kenyatta's motion to pull Kenya out of the ICC was slammed
by Senator and ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs Moses Wetang'ula, who
alleged a withdrawal would leave the nation vulnerable to organised
criminals on politicians' payrolls.
Speaking at Manyatta in Kajiado Central constituency, the Daily Nation reported him as
saying, "
Kenya must remain in the Rome Statute to check the actions of some leaders".
ICC, 'biased' towards African continent?
Several African
states, which form majority of the 124-strong ICC membership, have
announced their intention to pull out of the court, as they say all the
23 cases the ICC is investigating are in Africa – something they
perceive as being be biased only towards the continent.
Countries including Uganda and South Africa have reminded the international community that
the ICC has never opened an official investigation outside of Africa since it was established in 2002.
In 2015, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, called on African leaders to establish an ICC which would be mandated to prosecute Western leaders who have committed crimes on the African continent. At the time, the nonogenarian said the court should try former British PM Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush.
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