Ambassador Francis Muthaura/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 26 – A cross section of Kenyans on Thursday welcomed the move by Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Civil Service boss Francis Muthaura to step aside from their government positions following indictment by the International Criminal Court.
International Centre for Transitional Justice acting head Christine Alai welcomed the move saying it was good they stepped aside to allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to proceed without interference.
“We have been calling for them to step aside to allow the process to move independently. We recognise the value of stepping aside and also honouring the spirit of the Constitution,” she asserted.
Alai who has been a member of the civil society groups calling for their resignation also said it was the right thing to do morally though they are perceived innocent until the ICC trial process runs its course.
International Commission of Jurists Executive Director George Kegoro shared similar sentiments, telling Capital News that the duo should now focus on their defence.
“It is good because the country can now move forward. I wish them well in their defence at the ICC,” he said.
The resignations have been welcomed by a cross section of Kenyans interviewed on the streets of Nairobi.
“We thank them. Whatever they have done, they have done a good thing. They are not guilty until proven guilty,” a Nairobi resident said.
“They have done right to resign because their stay in those offices was not going to be in anybody’s interest. They are supposed to hold those offices for public good.”
The reactions came after President Mwai Kibaki announced that he had accepted the duo’s letters seeking to step aside from their positions due to the ICC process which confirmed charges against them on Monday.
Public pressure has been growing asking Kibaki to sack them or asking them to step aside.
Kenyatta however still remains in his position as the Deputy Prime Minister as stipulated in the National Accord.
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