Uhuru hints at ICC trial snub

PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta has hinted
that he may not go to The Hague. Uhuru,
who was speaking in Loitoktok after
several MPs, senators and gover- nors
urged him not to heed the ICC’s
summons, said:
“Hiyo mambo wenzangu wameongea
sitaki kuongea zaidi, tuko hapo hapo laini
hiyo, (I would not like to comment more
on what my friends have said),” he said.
The President was seen clapping when
Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye said he
has no business going to The Hague
because he was elected to serve Kenyans
and not “other interests”.
Othaya MP Mary Wambui told the
President not to go to The Hague because
Kenyans will block all the exit routes.
“We as Jubilee MPs will block JKIA and
ensure that you do not go anywhere,” she
said. Lawmakers allied to TNA met in
Parliament last week and agreed that
Uhuru will not be “allowed” to leave
Kenya.
“We met as TNA MPs and resolved that
our party leader will not leave for that
kangaroo Hague court. If you attempt to
leave with- out our authority, you will be
doing that at your own peril,” Bahati MP
Onesmus Ngunjiri told Uhuru.
The President said local media
misreported the September 21 Westgate
Mall attack. He said journalists reported
recklessly instead of acting responsibly
and within the law to protect the families
of those who were affected by the
tragedy. Uhuru said Inspector General of
Police David Kimaiyo’s remarks last week
on how some journalists covered the
attack were not meant to curtail media
free- dom. “Kimaiyo only cautioned over
coverage that appeared to give too much
publicity to the attackers,” he said.
Uhuru urged journalists to be sensitive to
the families of those killed or injured in
such attacks. “I have been to many
countries, but I have never seen TV
footage aired live as people are being
shot,” he said.
Uhuru said the security forces are
devoted to tack- ling crime and they
should be respected because they
“sacrificed” to protect the country.
“For the Fourth Estate, don’t be people
who glorify criminals who want to harm
Kenyans. Do not demoralise our security
officers. They have my full support
because security is key to all of us,” he
said. “You can say press freedom, mimi
mtanitusi mpaka ng’ombe warudi kwa
boma na mimi sitashtuka. Mimi sitajali
(you will abuse me until the cows come
back to the shed, I will not be cowed, and
I will not care).”
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