ICC-01/09-01/11-52-Anx2 14-04-2011 1/4 EO PT Public Annex 2 The Standard Online | printer friendly version Page 1 of 3 ICC-01/09-01/11-52-Anx2 14-04-2011 2/4 EO PT Anti-Raila crusade Published on By Martin Mutua and Moses Njagi What was billed as a prayer rally at Uhuru Park for two of the Ocampo Six suspects turned out to be a no- holds barred forum to attack The Hague, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement party. It was the ugly climax to an otherwise cheerful and colourful welcome party for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto, which snaked its way from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport through Nairobi’s Eastlands suburbs to the rally’s venue. In a well-choreographed sequence at the meeting, speaker after speaker tore into the PM and the International Criminal Court (ICC) as 2007-2008 poll chaos suspects Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto watched calmly. Conspicuously missing from the party were the other ICC suspects: Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Postmaster General and former Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua arap Sang. Other than the short closing and opening segments where prayers were held, the 2012 political alliance of Ruto, Uhuru, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, Omingo Magara and Tourism Minister Najib Balala was announced, with a promise by Uhuru that they would visit every corner of the country. The ICC was likened to Britain, Kenya’s former coloniser, with references to the Pre-Trial Chamber II judges as "wale wazungu" (those white people). Some of the attacks were outright insults, with Laikipia Thousands of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto East MP Mwangi Kiunjuru at some point likening Raila’s supporters turned up for prayer rally at Uhuru Park, ODM party to an animal with a rat’s tail, and wearing the Nairobi, on Monday. Photo: Collins Kweyu/Standard straw hat often favoured by the PM, while Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny called Raila a "coward" who flies out of the country every time he is facing some heat. Kinjuri said they had launched their campaign for 2012 and referred to the PM as an "old lion that would eat grass" next year, mocking Raila’s oft-quoted parable about mistaking a lion that has been rained on to be a cat. Earlier, Uhuru and Ruto came back from The Hague and straight into the arms of thousands of supporters including over 70 legislators. Their supporters thronged the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where the two landed at 7am on Monday on a flight from The Hague where they had made their first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Uhuru and Ruto then led a procession from the airport with their supporters in tow and made stops at various spots in Nairobi’s Eastlands, where they passed through, before making their way to Uhuru Park where thousands of supporters were waiting for them. In total, it took the duo’s entourage six hours to reach Uhuru Park. The rally started with prayers after which speaker after speaker who took the podium alluded to their push to have Uhuru and Ruto at the top of Government come the next elections. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/print.php?id=2000033078&cid=4 12/04/2011 The Standard Online | printer friendly version Page 2 of 3 ICC-01/09-01/11-52-Anx2 14-04-2011 3/4 EO PT "All Kenyans are at Uhuru Park today and the change in leadership of this country will be found here," said Tourism Minister Najib Balala who was one of the many speakers. Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei assured Uhuru and Ruto that their supporters would not abandon them in the face of the challenges they face over the charges of crimes against humanity levelled against them by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. "We are with you all the way and you will never walk alone," she said. Kosgei said she knows Uhuru and Ruto as peaceful people. She said when Uhuru lost the presidential election of 2002 with Ruto as his pointman, he accepted defeat and the country remained peaceful. Uhuru and Ruto appeared to steer clear of controversial speeches about their cases and called on Kenyans to maintain peace "We are here to ask you to be together so that we bring peace because no European will do so," said Uhuru. Uhuru said their adversaries in politics should read the signs of what to expect in the 2012 contest. "Those who think they have a big voice through the media, western embassies and their allies should know that the only important voice is that of Kenyans and the voice of the people is the voice of God, and they have seen that today," he added. Uhuru appealed for unity among the people saying that was the only way Kenyans can forge ahead. Ruto on his part thanked those who had prayed for them before they left for the Netherlands. "I thank God because we agreed before we left for the journey when we had prayers and I can tell you those prayers are similar to those of Paul and Silas because when went there all doors were opened," he added. Ruto likened their tribulations due to the post-election violence cases to "traps" set by their rivals. "There are those who have put a trap for us and as you all know a trap catches those that are meant for it and those that are not but we pray those who have set the trap that it catches them also," he added. Ruto, who spoke in parables, said in their new resolve they do not want those who say "yes" and "no" at the same time. "This is because when you say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ you say too many things that may create a circus and Kenyans end up in trouble and never again shall we engage in these circus because the country is greater than any person, religion or group," he added. The Eldoret North MP said they had resolved to unite Kenyans and would go round the country to preach peace. "Never again will Kenyans fight because of politics of competition," he said. He also hit out ODM accusing the party of playing politics with the resettlement of people who were displaced by the post-election violence. The Eldoret North MP said Lands Minister James Orengo had refused to use funds allocated by the Finance Ministry last year to buy land for IDPs. "When they went for prayers for IDPs they should have also reminded the one in charge of lands who was with them to state why he has not bought the land to resettle the IDPs,’ he added. In a veiled attack on Raila, Ruto said the country couldn’t be built on "propaganda, and football stories". "Kenyans must roll up their sleeves to develop their country," he said. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/print.php?id=2000033078&cid=4 12/04/2011 The Standard Online | printer friendly version Page 3 of 3 ICC-01/09-01/11-52-Anx2 14-04-2011 4/4 EO PT Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who abandoned his official limousine and joined Ruto and Uhuru during their procession through the city, also spoke at the rally. Kalonzo declared that the journey to unite Kenyans had begun and the Government would do everything possible this year to ensure all IDPs are resettled. He defended his shuttle diplomacy, which collapsed after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed to agree on the issue, saying the Kenya story had been told to the world, and that there were two options now remaining. Kalonzo said the move to reform the Judiciary was on course, and once that happened, Kenyans would take charge of their destiny by seeking justice through the country’s courts for their citizens. "All nations encounter challenges, but what matters is the ability to manage and overcome those challenges and I assure you Kenya will become one united country very soon," he added. Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa also called on the media to give accurate reporting on the politics surrounding the Ocampo suspects and their cases. "I want to advise the media if Kenya bleeds you bleed too and therefore don’t give false reports," he added. When the Ocampo Six appeared at The Hague, the Presiding Judge of the Pre-Trial Chamber II told them the court had learnt from the Kenyan media of fresh moves to ignite violence in Kenya should charges against the six be confirmed in September. While defending Uhuru and Ruto against accusations that they were responsible for the post election violence, Wamalwa said they were shocked when they arrived at The Hague to be confronted by a letter from ODM that demanded the two be locked up describing them as warmongers. "If God was ODM, then I can tell you that the two would not have come back but thank God that is not the case," he added. ODM secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o has already denied authoring the letter and said that his signature was forged. Wamalwa said if Uhuru and Ruto were warmongers how come they conceded defeat in 2002 and decided to support President Kibaki. The Saboti MP said Uhuru and Ruto should be commended for uniting the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin who have been protagonists during the post election violence.