- Title: KENYA: Mixed views on Nairobi streets after UN votes ICC trials to go ahead
- Date: 16th November 2013
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (NOVEMBER 16, 2013) (REUTERS) NAIROBI SKYLINE VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER VENDORS BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS
- Embargoed: 1st December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Crime,Politics,People
- Reuters ID: LVA31DJ09HF2J14GBPZM27X6UDYD
- Story Text: An African bid to postpone the International Criminal Court (ICC) trials of Kenya's president and his deputy failed at the United Nations on Friday (November 15), a result that Nairobi called 'clear cowardice in the face of a critical African matter'.
The African Union had requested that the U.N. Security Council defer the cases against Uhuru Kenyatta and his number two, William Ruto, for one year to allow them to deal with the aftermath of an attack by al Qaeda-linked Somali militants.
But the 15-member Security Council was split - seven members, including Russia and China, voted in favour, and eight abstained, including France, the United States and Britain. Resolutions need nine votes and no vetoes to pass. Britain, France, the United States, China and Russia hold veto powers.
Kenyan newspapers reported the U.N. decision on their front pages on Saturday (November 16) as Nairobi residents appeared to disagree over the ruling.
"They were justified to decline the request because it's not all about Uhuru or Ruto. There were other people who lost their lives, there are people who want justice. And I think even the president himself, when he came to power, he just talked about a personal thing, so why should he make it a Kenyan thing right now. Because when he was taken to the ICC and these cases were brought against him, he was not a president - now that he is the president, and I think they are just using Kenyan resources to, you know, achieve their personal interests," said Abdulah Mohammed.
"I don't agree with the ruling because they could have allowed the deferral of the case at least for one year according to both these two gentlemen and what the entire Africa wanted," said Rataka Kamau.
Kenyatta and Ruto are accused of fomenting ethnic violence after Kenya's 2007 elections, in which 1,200 people died. Both deny the charges and have tried to have the cases adjourned or halted. Ruto's trial began last month, while Kenyatta's trial is due to start on Feb. 5 after being delayed for a third time.
In a statement, Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said those who abstained showed "clear cowardice in the face of a critical African matter."
At least 67 people were killed in the Nairobi mall attack in September, the worst attack on Kenyan soil since al Qaeda bombed the U.S. Embassy in 1998.
The Kenyan cases have stirred an African backlash against the ICC Court and sparked claims that the Security Council does not take Africa seriously enough. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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