Kenya: The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is pressing for the expansion of the jurisdiction of a regional court to try crimes against humanity.
EALA members led by Speaker Margaret Nantongo (seated, right) and Council of Ministers of East Africa Communities chairman Shem Bageine during a press conference at Parliament Buildings Monday. Photo: Boniface Okendo/Standard
EALA members Monday slammed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for turning down African Union (AU) and Kenya’s request for deferral of the ICC cases.
EALA said it was saddened by UNSC’s failure to approve the postponement of the ICC cases facing President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
Addressing the Press in Parliament buildings ahead of their third meeting of the second session, the EALA members said they supported the deferral request.
The regional legislative arm said the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) would provide nearer home solutions, if its jurisdiction is expanded to include trial of crimes against humanity committed within the territorial boundaries of the member-states.
The EACJ is located in Arusha Tanzania.
Mechanisms
“We want to put in place cohesive mechanisms to deal with cases like those before the ICC so that we can enhance healing and reconciliation while at the same time delivering justice to the victims,” said Margaret Nantongo, Speaker of the EALA
The 45-member assembly revealed that the East African Community supported the deferral of the Kenyan cases on the basis that member-states’ constitutions do not allow sitting presidents to be tried before a court of law
“We delivered our resolutions to the UN secretary General Ban Ki-moon in support of the deferral of the Kenyan cases but given that the UNSC turned down the request we will want the jurisdiction of the EACJ expanded to have a nearer home court,” said Nantongo.
By James Mbaka, The Standard