Pastor asks Uhuru Kenyatta to attend ICC trial

A Seventh Day Adventist pastor on Monday urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to honour his appointment with The Hague based International Criminal Court to avoid getting Kenya into social economic problems.

“Irrespective of the African Union summit resolution that the President ignores The Hague’s trials until his term in office ends, I urge him to honour his date with the International Criminal Court to avoid international economic partners from severing their relations with our country,” Pastor Nichodemus Kebaso said.

Speaking in Nyamira Town, the pastor said the President and his deputy William Ruto had promised Kenyans before they ascended to power that they will cooperate with ICC on the cases they faced and Kenyans were watching to see whether they will keep their word.

He praised Mr Ruto for ignoring those agitating that they stop attending the ICC trials.

Pastor Kebaso said neither Kenya nor communities that the two top Kenyan leaders come from that were in trial at The Hague and wondered why there was hue and cry all over.

“In fact the two leaders are facing the cases as individuals irrespective of the offices they currently hold. I believe that they have been using personal resources in attending The Hague sermons,” he said.

At the same time Pastor Kebaso scoffed at the decision taken by Parliament to pull out of the Rome Statute saying Kenya has been unable to prosecute those behind 2007-2008 post-election violence.

He said the ICC was the only option where victims of political instigated crimes can get justice since the government did shoddy investigations leading to the arrest and prosecution of a few suspects by local courts.

“Those who suffered during the 20007- 2008 post-election violence want justice. This justice can only be realised if those implicated in the atrocities and destruction of properties stand before court,’ Pastor Kebaso added.