Tribal violence fears in Kenya in wake of ICC indictments: The Church of England Newspaper, Dec 24, 2010 p 6.

Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya

First published in The Church of England Newspaper.

Church leaders in Kenya have called for calm in the wake of an International Criminal Court prosecutor’s call for the indictment on charges of “crimes against humanity” of six Kenyan political leaders.

On Dec 15, Luis Moreno Ocampo asked the court in The Hague to charge former higher education minister William Ruto, Minister for Industrialization Henry Kosgey and radio broadcaster Joshua Sang with planning a campaign of murder and ethnic cleansing in the Rift Valley against supporters of President Mwai Kibaki.

In a separate indictment Moreno Ocampo charged Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta—son of  Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta—Cabinet secretary Francis Muthaura and former police commissioner Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hussein Ali with murder, deportation, persecution, rape and crimes against humanity committed against supporters of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kenya’s 2007 general election sparked a sharp clash between supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.  Over 1000 people were killed in sectarian and ethnic clashes and tens of thousands were driven from their homes by the fighting.

Kenyan political and church leaders have urged calm in the wake of the announcement, seeking to head off a new round of violent tribal clashes.  “As a nation we must also focus on the need for national healing and reconciliation. This is paramount as we move forward on the path of national peace and unity,” President Kibaki said.

“I appeal to Kenyans to remain calm. The government will remain vigilant and ensure that the rights of its citizens and the dignity of the nation are upheld,” the president said.

On Dec 18 Archbishop Eliud Wabukala also called for calm.  Speaking in Eldoret in the Rift Valley at the retirement ceremony of Bishop Thomas Kogo, the archbishop said Kenya would overcome the hatred loosed by the post-election violence by seeking reconciliation and not by “pointing accusing fingers.”

Cardinal John Njue warned worshippers at Nairobi’s Roman Catholic Cathedral on Sunday not to be seduced by the blandishments of agitators seeking to incite tribal hatreds.  “Christmas is a season of love and sharing. We must remember that we are one people. Let us not be used by others to turn against each other,” he said.

However, the Anglican Bishop of Mumias, the Rt. Rev. Beneah Salala joined other civic leaders in calling for the four accused currently serving in government to step down from office.

“The new constitution is very clear that once a public officer is implicated in a criminal matter, that officer must step aside until they are cleared through the due process,” the Mumias ACK bishop told reporters.

On Dec 16, Prime Minister Odinga told Parliament the three government ministers and the head of the civil service would remain in office for the present.  “They will continue to hold public offices until the summons are issued as per the Rome Statute,” Mr. Odinga said.