SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013
Deputy President William Ruto has said he was not surprised by the UN decision to reject deferral of Kenyan cases at the International Criminal Court.
Mr Ruto described the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution as a side issue, saying it was a clear testimony of who the true friends of Kenya are.
"We are saying what happened yesterday (Friday) is a clear testimony of genuine friends who can stand with us when it is shining or raining. We thank them for standing with us. We have a plan...we will work and endure any difficulties."
He added: "They say adversity is the mother of invention. We will sort these things as they are side issues."
"We can now say we have genuine, legitimate and consistent friends. We can now work with them and the rest of world to ensure there is peace in our region and country."
Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by more than 40 MPs, spoke at a thanksgiving ceremony for Bureti MP Leonard Sang, at Litein East School.
The same subject also featured in two other political rallies in Bomet and Transmara where the Deputy President attended other thanksgiving services.
Mr Ruto said he and President Uhuru Kenyatta were not shaken by the resolution as they were clear they would triumph in the end.
The MPs allied to the Jubilee Coalition castigated countries that blocked the deferral of cases involving the President and the deputy president.
The MPs said the move to deny the two leaders a deferral of the cases at the ICC was a clear signal that the eight countries that abstained were not friends of Kenya.
A United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday failed to approve a request for the deferral of the cases.
The deferral of the cases had been requested by the African Union.
The MPs said they were angered by mainly the US, UK and France who pretended to be Kenya's friends.
REVIEW FRIENDSHIP
They said Kenya was going to review its friendship with countries that abstained thereby forcing the deferral to fail.
Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Adan Duale said the ICC cases were a brainchild of some local politicians and some from the international community.
"Why didn’t the US, UK and France just oppose the deferral because that is what was their intention?"
The Majority Leader asked the Government to do business with those who backed the deferral like China and Russia.
Mr Duale said the ICC cases was a brainchild and procured by some "local and international investors".
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said: "How do you abstain and claim that you are a friend of Kenya?"
He said Kenya should rethink its friendship based in the UNSC resolution because the ICC cases were meant to belittle the President and the Deputy President.
Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh said Kenya faced terror attacks because of being a US ally, which did not support the deferral.
"We fight terror because of the US. That is why we are bitter if you abstain from a vote you are a coward. They should have voted because we know where there stand is," she said.
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