ICC TO DEFINE KENYAN AGENDA FOR 2014
The ICC cases facing President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are likely to dominate and shape the country in the new year.
The South Sudan, the ongoing instability in Somalia and the political crisis sparked off by government appointments are expected to dominate the Jubilee Alliance administration in the next few months.
Kenyans will also be watching to what the administration will do to deal with the claims that some of its major infrastructure projects are mired in corruption.
For starters, focus will be on the multi-million shilling free laptops for primary schools project which President Uhuru alluded to in his New Year message and which Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said would be implemented by March this year.
It will also be telling to see how the administration deals with corruption claims over the multi-billion shilling Mombasa-Malaba standard gauge rail problem. As it is, these claims have been causing friction within the Jubilee Alliance and how the presidency handles the matter might have a bearing on the coalition’s continued survival.
The manner in which the presidency handles the simmering discontent caused by the recent government appointments which seemed to favor one side of the coalition will also give an indication as to the stability or otherwise of the coalition.
New appointments expected to be made in the next three months — ambassadors as well as members of the board of various parastatals— will prove to be an acid test for the coalition.
One of coalition’s harshest critic, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter said he was optimistic that the issues that had caused friction between URP and TNA would be resolved. “The jubilee government will be starting on a proper year now and we will concentrate on delivering on the development agenda as captured in our manifesto,” said Keter.
But it is the outcome of the ICC which will determine which way the country’s politics will take. There has been growing discontent within the jubilee alliance with URP adherents accusing some key civil servants of taking part in ‘fixing’ Ruto. The MPs have been demanding the sacking of these civil servants.
The December 19 admission by ICC chief prosecutor Fatou country that she did not have sufficient evidence to uphold the crimes against humanity charges filed against Uhuru has reinforced these concerns.
However, instead of dismissing the charges as she did in the case involving Uhuru’s co-accused, former head of civil service Francis Muthaura, Bensouda sought adjournment of Uhuru’s trial which was due to start on February 5. She said she needed the time to obtain more evidence against Uhuru.
The delay has however not dampened the spirits of Uhuru’s supporters who describe this as a face saving exercise. “The talk of getting more evidence is neither here or there. The case is as good as closed. It’s just a matter of time before she files for dismissal of the case,” said David Kigochi, the chairman of the Farmers Party of Kenya.
Nairobi County speaker Alex Magelo said Bensouda’s dismissal of the case would be the best new year’s gift to Kenya. “It is time she dropped the case. All indications are that the case is headed nowhere. All communities in Kenya now are at peace with one another. It makes no sense to continue with a case which Kenyans are no longer interested in,” he said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Kericho Senator Charles Keter and his Kiambu counterpart Kimani Wa-Matangi who said the case was likely to cause embarrassment to the court.
During an interview on Citizen TV on New Year’s eve, Ruto, who recently lost an application tone excused from the hearing of his trial which resumes later this month, said it would be better for the country if Uhuru’s case was dismissed.
“If the curtains for the case against the president finally fall, it will be very good news for this country ever. If for whatever reason the matter against me will still continue, at least one of us will be a lot more free and can move things faster,” said Ruto.
If both cases collapse, one of the key binding factors of the coalition may be weakened and the muted criticism will become fully blown. Political commentator Mutahi Ngunyi alluded to this during a recent Citizen TV interview when he said it would be in the interest of the Jubilee Alliance’s survival for the ICC cases to continue indefinitely.
The use of the ‘tyranny of numbers’ in both the senate and National Assembly to force through unpopular government bills is expected to continue. Assurances by some senators and MPs that they will not try to ‘misuse’ this advantage are yet to be tested.
The new year provides former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Cord alliance partners— Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and New Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula with the challenge of consolidating and providing an effective opposition. As it is, the coalition has been in disorganized as its leaders have been unable to provide its senators or MPs with any guidance and have left them to respond or deal with issues at individual levels. The ODM which recently lost two parliamentary by-elections also faces the challenge as perception grows its losing its focus.
