By Thomas Ochieng, Kenya

The international criminal court in the Hague,known as trial chamber 2, has dismissed the application filled by Hon.Ruto before  the ICC prosecutor Moreno Ocampo, named the Kenyan suspects bearing the greatest responsibility during the 2008 post-election violence.

In what seems as a very tough road for Hon.William Ruto, the trial chamber in its ruling objected to Ruto presenting an objection to the case before the prosecutor presented the suspect case before the judges saying that the Eldoret north Mp acted as  friend of the court yet his prayers were driven by an assumptions that he was indeed a suspect.

The judges in their ruling also objected to the suspended ministers pleas that the prosecutor be compelled to conduct investigations on the post-election violence afresh,arguing that the judges have no such powers over the prosecutor. However in a quick rejoinder to the ruling the MPs legal team led by lawyers Katwa Kigen and Kithure Kindiki who recently accompanied their client to a much hyped visit to the Hague,rejected the ruling and vowed to appeal the
judgment.

Ends.

Monrovia (Liberia)-The two-day ministerial conference of the Mano River Union (MRU) Tuesday ended in the Liberian capital Monrovia with the Union expressing concern over the continuous influx of Ivorian refugees into Liberia and Guinea and their social and economic needs..

The conference recalled the sad experience of the Mano River Union countries in the past and member countries urgently appealed to the political leaders of Cote d’Ivoire and the international community to continue to work towards the preservation of Peace, Security and Stability in Cote d’Ivoire and within the sub region.

Representatives of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone attended the two-day meeting within the context of the 15th Protocol to the MRU Declaration relating to Cooperation on Defense, Security, Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was intended to reaffirm the MRU’s commitment to abide by resolutions of ECOWAS and the AU on the sub region and its attachment to the maintenance of peace and stability.

According to a joint communique issued at the end of the conference, delegates assessed the security and humanitarian crisis that is emerging in the MRU basin which could escalate if the situation continues in Cote d’Ivoire as is, and explored ways  for responding to the looming situation.

Member states lauded  and encouraged the hospitality of the host communities and thanked the UN system as well as friendly nations and Non Governmental Organizations for their support, calling on them to increase their support to address the humanitarian crisis.

The opening session of the conference was graced by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Liberia, Margrethe Loj.

By Terence Sesay, Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Today Friday the 21st January, President Kibaki of Kenya visits Rift Valley Province. Rift Valley Members of Parliament, William Ruto who has fallen out with Prime Minister Raila Odinga is one of the organizers of the meeting.

This is a strong signal that the President does not want to be party to the wrangles that Raila is faced with and the fact that the Rift Valley MPs doe not want Raila anymore.

All Kenyans are watching today’s events very carefully. They want to see how Kibaki will treat Ruto during the visit. Ruto from the ODM party was suspended as Higher Education Minister by Raila Odinga not long ago. Ruto has accused Raila of ditching the Kalenjins and the fact that the visit by the President is happening during Raila’s absence – he is out there in West Africa, is very interesting as expects conclude that Kibaki may after all have no objection to the KKK alliance (Kalenjin, Kikuyu and Kamba alliance – Ruto, Uhuru and Kalonzo race come 2012.

The invitation to have Kibaki visit Rift Valley when prime minister Raila Odinga is out of the country is a well calculated move by Ruto and his allies. They would not risk to invite the president while Raila is in Kenya because they do not want to see him accompany the president. The Kalenjins want the president’s ear for themselves and it is believed that they will make the president understand their position on the PM who they now despise.

By Chief editor Korir, African Press international

By Jonathan Hutson, USA

Conflict Minerals: Enough Project, Ashley Judd, Congressman McDermott Call on Under Secretaries Hormats and Otero to Get New Congo Strategy Right

Washington, DC — The Wall Street Reform Act required the Obama administration to develop a strategy for addressing the linkages between the trade in conflict minerals, armed groups and human rights abuses in eastern Congo by January 17.  Early indications are that the strategy will not contain the critical ingredients for success:  senior U.S. leadership in developing a minerals certification process, building on the lessons of similar efforts to end the trade in blood diamonds, sweatshop labor in the apparel sector, and illegally harvested timber, and leading revitalized efforts to reform Congo’s security sector.

Under Secretaries of State Maria Otero and Robert Hormats have the de facto lead in the policy process, in support of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s strong interest in ending the scourge of sexual violence in eastern Congo, driven in large part by the contestation over conflict minerals.  In the aftermath of Secretary Clinton’s historic 2009 trip to Congo, the administration pledged to take a leading role in helping to end the world’s deadliest war.

“In response to the bloody wars in West Africa fueled by conflict diamonds, consumers demanded a change forcing governments and companies to find a solution. Heavy diplomatic and commercial pressure resulted in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and helped make peace in that part of the world,” said John Prendergast, Co-Founder of the Enough Project.  “We want to replicate that strategy in Congo, filtering conflict minerals out of our cell phones and laptops.  The only way to do that is to create a mineral certification process.  And the only way we’ll get that is if the U.S. leads in its creation.”

Actor and activist Ashley Judd, who has made two trips to eastern Congo said, “In my two visits to eastern Congo, I’ve seen the ravaging impact on communities — particularly in the form of shocking gender violence against women and girls — that the pursuit of mineral wealth creates.  An international system certifying minerals as conflict-free would help break the link between rape and violence, and the mineral trade that powers our cell phones and laptops.  Americans as both consumers and citizens of the wider world have a crucial opportunity to feel fantastic about U.S. playing a leading role in its creation.”

Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) said, “The law passed in Congress on conflict minerals was an important first step, but I think the State Department should play a vital lead diplomatic role in convening companies and key governments together to hammer out an international certification process.  Governments in the region have shown willingness to partner on the issue, but certification will need much more leadership from a senior U.S. level, if it is to succeed.”

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Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity

Swift action by Kenya’s Minister for Internal Security Prof George Saitoti yesterday ordered the Commissioner of Police to immediately interdict three killer-cops.

The three policemen stopped suspected thieves/ Gangsters and while lying down on the ground, obeying police orders, were shot at point-blank on the head killing them instantly. Thereafter the same policemen loaded them into their vehicle.

The good thing with modern technology made the cops caught red-handed. If they had not been filmed, they would later claim that the suspects were shot while trying to escape.

There are many policemen like the three in the Kenyan police. They must be removed. they are the cancer in the force that damage Kenya’s name internationally.

Police reforms are now under way due to the new constitution and such killer-hungry cops must be removed, and punished severely so that the Kenyan people may only have friendly police officers who will deliver services in a friendly atmosphere.

Kenya should also ensure that police arrest suspects instead of killing them for their own pleasure and thrill.

By Chief editor Korir, African Press International