Nominee quizzed on Hague cases

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary nominee Amina Mohamed is confident cases facing President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the ICC will be resolved.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel but not of an oncoming train,” said Ms Mohamed.

Responding to a question from Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery, Ms Mohamed told the Committee on Appointments that Kenya holds a special position in the Rome Statute as it was among the first countries to ratify it.

Mr Nkaissery said the Constitution requires Kenya to respect international treaties it signed. He further said the International Criminal Court is meant for failed states.

The MP asked how Ms Mohamed, as the top diplomat, will handle the matter so that it does not interfere with Kenya’s sovereignty.

“We have an issue right now with the ICC. We need to deal with them effectively through the framework that exists … We need to finish the issue as soon as possible. We have an opportunity to deal with the issue,” said Ms Mohamed.

She, however, did not tell how exactly the government will address cases facing President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto if she becomes Cabinet secretary.

Termination

Kenya has already called for the termination of crimes against humanity charges facing President Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang.

In a strongly worded statement to the United Nations Security Council, through Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Macharia Kamau, the government asked the UN to present its petition to the ICC during a meeting with The Hague court prosecutor held on Tuesday.