, NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 10 – Eight Members of Parliament have dismissed calls by members of civil society for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura and Hussein Ali because of cases they are facing at The Hague, terming it premature.
The legislators led by PNU Secretary General Kiraitu Murungi said they were optimistic that the charges against the six suspects will be dismissed.
The MPs added that the six suspects summoned to appear before the pre-trial chamber on April 7 "remain suspects until the charges are confirmed."
"They are going for confirmation of those charges or dismissal if there is no evidence," said Mr Murungi.
The Energy Minister said it was only after the charges are confirmed that "we can raise such issues" of resignation.
"Those who are going around town celebrating saying Uhuru step aside, Muthaura set aside… it is too early to celebrate. It is too early," he said.
They also defended Vice president Kalonzo Musyoka\’s shuttle diplomacy to get a deferral of the cases backed a move by Attorney General Amos Wako, Internal Security George Saitoti and Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo to challenge the case against six suspects.
Mr Murungi said under section 19 of the Rome Statute, the government will appear before the ICC pre-trial chamber judges to challenge the admissibility of the Kenyan case at The Hague.
"I heard some people saying that now when these people go there (Hague) they will not come back. This is confusion," he said
At the same time Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo said the decision to challenge the cases was in line with the shuttle diplomacy by Mr Musyoka to push for the suspects through the local judicial mechanism.
Nominated MP Mohammed Affey said the international court cannot solve Kenya\’s problems. "We believe and maintain that the ICC will neither bring peace nor harmony in Kenya," said Mr Affey.
He said that the team was sure that the cases will be dismissed by the pre-trial chamber.
Follow the author at https://twitter.com/waitheras