Bloomberg Sarah McGregor and Eric Ombok - Dec 16, 2010
Kenya’s Parliament dismissed a motion to end the East African nation’s obligation to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which is pursuing cases against six Kenyans for their alleged roles in post-election violence in 2008.
Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Farah Maalim said lawmaker Isaac Ruto didn’t follow proper procedure because he presented the motion for debate rather than a bill. Ruto urged parliament to repeal Kenya’s commitment as a signatory to the Rome Statutes that created the court. The proceedings were broadcast by Kenya Broadcasting Corp., the state-run television station.
The Hague-based court’s Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo yesterday requested that charges of crimes against humanity be filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Finance MinisterUhuru Kenyatta, and lawmaker William Ruto. Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali and Joshua Arap Sang, a radio presenter, were also identified as suspects.
“A state shall not be discharged, by reason of its withdrawal, from the obligations arising from this statute while it was a party to the statute, including any financial obligation which may have accrued,” Prime Minister Raila Odinga told lawmakers. Ending cooperation also wouldn’t affect current cases, he said.
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