Azimio reads mischief in ICC prosecutor Khan’s visit

Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition luminaries have raised concern over International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan’s visit to the country.

The leaders allied to opposition chief Raila Odinga charged that the presence of the Netherlands-based prosecutor could jeopardize the ongoing process of collecting evidence against police brutality meted on the coalition’s supporters during the anti-government demonstrations.

Yesterday, the leaders led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna while congregating at ATG Deliverance Church in Mwiki, Nairobi county, called on the International community and Kenyans at large to take keen interest on the presence of Khan.

“We are facing danger and threats while advocating for the rights of the people. Our mission is to speak up for the people’s well-being. However, threatening us won’t benefit the people in the long run. Our role is to ensure that the people can afford basic necessities, like food, as they elected us with respect and trust,” Sifuna stated.

He added: “The situation is challenging with the prices of essential goods like sugar going up as cement and they are rising significantly. Our fight remains focused on the people’s welfare, as we have consulted and sought their support. Life is tough for our people, especially considering the high and doubled-up taxes,”

Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-Kenya) leader Eugene Wamalwa wondered why Khan was visiting the country at a time their lawyers were putting evidence together against individual police officers who shot and killed unarmed Kenyans.

“We must register our concern on the presence of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan. The police shot and killed some innocent Kenyans and our lawyers are compiling the evidence to take to ICC. We are asking what is Khan doing in the country?” Wamalwa posed.

Khan’s visit

Khan, who represented President William Ruto in the post-election violence case at The Hague, was in the country to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mount Kenya University (MKU).

The prosecutor was feted for his immense contribution to the promotion of justice and humanity.

However, speaking to a local TV station on Friday, Khan declined to comment on Kenya’s matters at ICC, saying he is recused from it, adding that he always takes the side of justice.

“I always try to act on the side of justice. The main principle is whether you a prosecutor or a judge, or defence counsel, act with integrity, courage and the realisation that you are a servant of something much bigger than yourself,” Khan said.

Already, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua has claimed that Khan’s visit puts the credibility of the ICC into question.

“ICC prosecutor Karim Khan being hosted in Kenya at a time both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza regime have written to ICC on the situation in the country, especially the killing spree of unarmed protestors by police is not only suspect but also a blot on the credibility of ICC,” Karua said in a tweet.

Wamalwa the former Defence Cabinet Secretary told the congregation that they will stand by the victims of the police brutality and will not relent until they get justice.

“We will stand with the victims of police brutality. We will condemn the injustices that have been met by the Kenyan police on their own brothers and sisters. Instead of using the bullets on the adherents of the Al-Shabaab, they have resorted to killing Kenyans,” Wamalwa said.

At the same time, Wamalwa disclosed that Azimio’s five-member dialogue team was ready for the talks and asked Kenya Kwanza to approach the talks with an unclenched fist.

The Azimio luminary chided President Ruto and his lieutenants for soiling the atmosphere for dialogue adding that talks will only yield fruits if the environment is not toxic.

According to Wamalwa, President Ruto’s tour of Mount Kenya was turned into insulting retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila, a move he said is not conducive for dialogue.

“If you are serious about the talks, then create a conducive environment for dialogue. You cannot go to tour a region and continue to insult the former President and the former premier and at the same time claim to want the talks.”

He went on: “Come to the dialogue with an unclenched fist and let us talk about the issues affecting Kenyans.”

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Enock Wambua (Kitui) while explaining that Azimio was not interested in joining Ruto’s administration, charged that in the event that issues are not resolved, nothing stops them from initiating secession.

Wambua, a close confidant of former Vice President and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said that people who feel secluded in a republic can decide to invoke article one of the United Nations (UN) on self-determination.

Article 1 (2) establishes that one of the main purposes of the United Nations, and thus the Security Council, is to develop friendly international relations based on respect for the “principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”.

“The Ruto regime thinks that we want to join his government. We do not want and we are not interested in joining your government,” Wambua said.

“We have said before that we don’t recognize your presidency, how then can we want to become part of what we don’t recognize? For the avoidance of doubt, we are not interested in joining your administration. If feel that we are not being listed we shall invoke Article 1 of the UN Charter on self-determination.” he added.

Wambua further explained that self-determination has been realized in South Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia and will not shy away from seceding from the Republic of Kenya.

On his side, Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, while, insisting that Azimio does not want to be part of Kenya Kwanza regime, charged that the high cost of living was choking a majority of Kenyans and they have every right to hold peaceful demonstrations as enshrined in Article 37 of the constitution.