The suggestion that Kenya adopts the Sierra Leone model and request the
UN to set up and run a special international tribunal to prosecute
perpetrators of the 2007 post-election violence locally is being
spearheaded by Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara.
He formally made the proposal to the chairman of the parliamentary
select committee on constitutional reforms last Wednesday, a day before
the House Business Committee presented to the House the constitutional
amendment Bill to entrench a special tribunal, which was shot down.
The MP said on Monday the government was unlikely to support the proposal and MPs backing it are considering petitioning the UN.
The government has clearly not received this well because we have not
seen it acknowledge this as a serious way forward, he said.
But first, the group plans to push through Parliament a motion urging
Foreign Affairs minister to petition the UN Security Council on the
matter.
In the event the ministry refuses, we shall make the necessary
resolution and present the petition to the UN body as Parliament, Mr
Imanyara said.
Not yet lost
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings on Monday, the MP
said the draft statute of the special court along with the
corresponding amendment to entrench it in the Kenya constitution should
adopt the model of the special court for Sierra Leone, but taking into
account the special circumstances in Kenya.
All is not yet lost. There is still a window of opportunity for the
government as we can bring The Hague to Kenya. We are still on track
and we can have a special court locally. I have no doubt it is the best
option and provides middle ground for both camps as it satisfies all
their arguments, he said.