VARIOUS: Residents in Naivasha, one of the Kenyan towns hit by post election violence after a 2007 election, express mixed views on the ICC confirmation hearings as the country's Finance and deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta takes the stand

Record ID: 362584

  • Title: VARIOUS: Residents in Naivasha, one of the Kenyan towns hit by post election violence after a 2007 election, express mixed views on the ICC confirmation hearings as the country's Finance and deputy Prime Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta takes the stand
  • Date: 28th September 2011
  • Summary: NAIVASHA, KENYA (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOUSE BLOCK ON FIRE PEOPLE STANDING NEAR SALVAGED PROPERTY
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Netherlands
  • City:
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4L92QAH0GITSN37171TIZH48J
  • Story Text: Kenya's Finance Minister and 2012 presidential hopeful Uhuru Kenyatta and two other top-ranking officials continue to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged over the country's post-election violence in 2007-08.
    Many Kenyans are closely following the confirmation hearings of six high-profile Kenyans named by the ICC as suspects behind deadly violence.
    The hearings are being closely watched because of the prominence of those involved and potential political impact.
    Kenyatta is one of the country's 2012 presidential hopefuls.
    ICC prosecutors have charged the six political and business leaders over the devastating violence, in which more than 1,220 people were killed after Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the disputed 2007 presidential election.
    The resulting bloodshed between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Party of National Unity tarnished Kenya's reputation for stability in an otherwise turbulent region and tension is rising again ahead of new elections due next year.
    The ICC says Kenyatta, a member of the Kikuyu tribe, mobilised a local militia called the Mungiki to hit back at members of the Kalenjin tribe who had sparked violence in Kenya's Rift Valley province targeting Kikuyu.
    Kenyatta, who is also deputy prime minister in Kenya's coalition government, is expected to be the only one of the six to take the stand to fend off accusations of committing crimes against humanity in a move analysts say could be risky because he would come under questioning by the court.
    Kenyatta ran for the presidency in 2002 but lost to Kibaki, and has vowed to contest for the top post in elections due next year. Leaders from his ethnic group, the Kikuyu, see him as the likely successor of Kibaki, also a Kikuyu.
    Over the years, Kenyatta has denied allegations he is linked to the murderous, mafia-style Mungiki gang that operates in Nairobi and Central province, the Kikuyu heartland. The gang's trademark is to decapitate its victims.
    Kenyatta has said he is not worried about the ICC process and that it would not affect Kenyan markets, the economy or his presidential aspirations.
    In Naivasha, one of the towns badly affected by violence at the time, many who fled and had their property destroyed have not returned. Ruins still stand as a stark reminder of what happened.
    But for Otieno Bala, a tailor in the town, coming back to reopen his business after the violence cooled off was the only way he could quickly rebuild his life.
    Otieno settled here in 1982, during the post election violence his sewing machine and other property was stolen so he has had to start again from scratch. Otieno is worried though that there may be violence again during next year's upcoming general elections.
    "Property was destroyed at the time so I don't know how the next elections will turn out. So we will have to sell our property because we don't know what will happen in 2012. I sold my plot and I now have to rent a house. The things I used to run my business were stolen at the time."
    About 660,000 people in parts of the country were displaced by the fighting and many of those affected have hope that the ICC will bring those responsible to justice.
    Kenyan lawmakers blocked moves to set up a local tribunal to try the suspects. The matter was referred to the ICC, which gave Kenya time to set up a tribunal but took up the cases when the country failed to do so.
    "I am very happy because if the case was being heard in Kenya, people are used to being bribed, that case would have been thrown out of court but I am sure that at The Hague justice will be served and Kenyans will live in peace," said Caleb Omunara, a Naivasha resident.
    Other residents of the town have also expressed concern, saying the trials could be geared towards locking out some of the 2012 presidential hopefuls.
    "I think this is a plot by Uhuru's political rivals to make sure that he does not run for the next election but we are praying for him and God will be with him," said Samuel Wanyoike.
    "I won't get any justice because I will never get the property I lost back, what happened cant change. Those who lost their lives will never come back, so they should just leave us alone to go on with our lives," said Ruth Atieno.
    "I think that this case should have been heard in Kenya because we have taken our problems out there yet we have just had judicial reforms. I think it would have been better that way," Samuel Kariuki another Naivasha resident added.
    The hearings will continue until October 5th and a decision on whether the suspects should be ordered to stand trial will be handed down within 60 days of the end of proceedings, including any written submissions.
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