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William Hague seen with President Kibaki during his to Kenya in February/PPS

Kenya

UK accused of plot to drag Kibaki into ICC case

William Hague seen with President Kibaki during his to Kenya in February/PPS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 8 – There was uproar in Parliament on Thursday following claims that European countries led by the United Kingdom had conspired to have President Mwai Kibaki indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the 2008 post-election violence.

Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo said the conspiracy also involves getting presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto arrested when they appear before the ICC for the mention of their case which has been set for trial.

The MP said the recent visit by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague was part of the larger scheme.

“With all indications that the two Ocampo guests bearing presidential ambitions and their groupings are likely to be a strong team, the way forward is to push for their detentions during the mention at the court on the pretext that they are security threats through public utterance in the political and prayer alliances,” Kilonzo said when reading part of the document that he alleged had emanated from an officer named Chloe Hamborg at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The document bears the logo of the FCO and is also marked ‘Restricted’.

The MPs were also incensed by the suggestion that President Mwai Kibaki was under investigation over the violence that saw more than 1,300 Kenyans killed and over 500,000 others uprooted from the homes.

“The arrest warrant would assist the ongoing investigations of President Kibaki. It would diminish the chances of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto ascending to State House and would increase the chances of Kibaki being indicted as a former Head of State. This may be possible with Raila presidency,” the document says.

The MPs claimed that the UK leadership had taken sides in Kenya’s succession politics.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula told the House that they could not discuss the report as it was against House rules, an argument that was supported by Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim.

“If we have to discuss the British government, we cannot do it without a substantive Motion which also requires a minimum of three days notice to the House,” ruled Maalim.

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Standing Order 43 (14) states that the Speaker may allow a question which shall not refer discourteously to any friendly country, or to any Head of State or Government or the representative in Kenya of any friendly country.

Wetangula said; “The matters being raised are definitely grave; the matters being raised are definitely serious I have absolutely no difficulty discussing the issue if a substantive Motion in accordance with the rules of the House is brought to this floor.”

MPs however urged the minister to initiate the process of severing links with the UK.

When contacted, the spokesman of the UK High Commission in Nairobi John Bradshaw described the claims as “preposterous.”

“We have a strong relationship with Kenya borne from mutual respect and this will continue,” Bradshaw said and indicated the UK did not want to engage in any further debate on the outrageous allegations.

Kenyatta, Ruto, former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are due to be tried before ICC after charges of crimes against humanity they were facing were confirmed by the Pre-Trial Chamber II in January this year.

Two other Kenyans, Former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey and ex commissioner of Police Mohammed Hussein Ali had their charges dropped by the court.

Kenyatta and his co-accused have since filed appeals with the ICC Appeals Chamber and also have sought the leave of the Pre- Trial Chamber II to challenge the decision confirming the charges against them.

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