NAKURU, Kenya Apr 3 – A major rally to show support for six International Criminal Court suspects before they leave for The Hague was on Sunday dominated by bashing of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Speaker after speaker at the rally took issue with Mzalendo Kibunjia’s team accusing it of bias in crackdown against hate speech.
The meeting which took place at Nakuru`s Afraha Stadium drew the attendance of over 50 MPs including Deputy Premier Uhuru Kenyatta who accused NCIC of employing intimidation tactics against them.
Mr Kenyatta hit out at Prime Minister Raila Odinga for alleged constant abuses and wondered why he was being accused of hate speech yet he was only defending himself against Mr Odinga’s insults.
“Kibunjia should understand this; I am not against a community but an individual whose stock-in-trade is divisiveness. Mr Odinga has abused me since 2002 and I have never responded. When I do so, I am accused of hate speech,” he said.
The Gatundu South MP called on the commission to be fair and objective while implementing its mandate.
The government through the Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia warned politicians engaging in hate speech and inciting communities.
Mr Kimemia said the government would summon leaders who incite communities against others in political rallies.
The Internal Security PS issued a stern warning saying that his Ministry and the NCIC will not hesitate ‘to charge warlords and inciters in court irrespective of who they are.”
He claimed the Premier had carried out his 2007 presidential campaign on an ethnic platform yet no action has been taken on him.
“If that isn’t a crime against humanity, then I don’t know what is, he never called for peace. He only thanked Kenyans for supporting him and the other Ocampo six,” he said.
NCIC said they have been monitoring the various rallies and have gathered information which they will act on. Mr Kimemia on his part, said several people had been marked and will next week be summoned to explain their statements.
Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri who also addressed the gatherings said he will not be intimidated by threat of arrest over statements he allegedly made regarding the Premier.
Mr Kiunjuri demanded that the AG prosecutes the Prime Minister over the destruction of the railway by his supporters. .
Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau claimed that the commission was targeting him and fellow MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri and William Kabogo while Kangundo’s Johnson Muthama said that the Premier\’s political career will come to end on April 11 when the Ocampo Six return from the ICC.
The Finance Minister plans to hold a prayer rally in his Gatundu political backyard on Monday before the suspects travel to the Hague for their date with the ICC.
Mr Kenyatta said they were ready to go to The Hague to defend themselves and expose the real culprits.
"We go to The Hague with the goodwill of the people of Kenya. Our role now is to ensure that the Constitution is implemented fully,” he said
Follow the author at https://twitter.com/Lwanambisi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqlfYFcWrgg
About The Author
