ICC re-enters Kenyan politics as elections nears

The past week has seen an unusual flurry of activities regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) both in Kenya and across the continent.
Burundi and South Africa have already written to the United Nations, expressing their intention to pull out of the Hague-based court.
According to , Michael Masutha, the ICC’s obligations are inconsistent with laws giving sitting leaders diplomatic immunity.
The decision followed a dispute last year when South Africa allowed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit the country for an African Union summit, despite him facing an arrest warrant from the ICC.
Most of the ICC’s investigations and indictments have been of Africans, stirring criticism from many governments on the continent.
The National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, has indicated that the House Business Committee will meet this week to deliberate on repealing the International Crimes Act.
he said.
A repeal would force the Cabinet to come up with a resolution, which will then be transformed into the withdrawal instruments.
 
The time period for a country whose a signatory to the Rome Statute to leave the ICC officially takes a one year.
At his weekly briefing, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, said the issue was yet to be deliberated within the Cabinet before preparations of all necessary instruments can be done.
he said.
The opposition has rejected the move by Jubilee officials to pull Kenya out of the Rome Statute.
Over the weekend, ODM Chairman John Mbadi, said that the country should not back out of the international treaty as it assures that electoral offenders are charged before the International Criminal Court.
Homa Bay Women Rep Gladys Wanga warned National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale against tabling the motion in parliament and declared that Kenya was in ICC to stay.
Speaking during NTV’s on Monday morning, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ termed Jubilee’s move to pull out as a non-issue especially with the general elections only months away.
said.