afrol News, 14 October - Kenya’s coalition government has invited the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno O'campo for negotiations on trying the main suspects of the 2007 post-election violence.

Kenya's Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo said the government had formally written to the ICC chief prosecutor, inviting him to visit the country on 3 November for talks leading to the fate of the suspects of the 2008 killings.

Local reports have suggested that the government is anxiously awaiting Moreno-Ocampo's response following communication by phone and fax.

The latest request by Kenyan government comes after Nairobi's efforts to form a local tribunal tasked to try the perpetrators of the post election failed. The clashes killed some 1 300 people.

In February, the Kenyan legislators rejected a bill seeking to establish a local tribunal, with MPs arguing that the post election violence suspects should rather be taken to the Hague. The MPs said a local judicial process would be vulnerable to political manipulation and that there would be no protection for witnesses.

Last week, the former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, expressed concerns over the sluggish pace of reforms saying, if Kenya would not address the root causes of the 2007 post election violence, it is bound for yet another failure in the 2012 elections.

Kenya's Grand Coalition Government was formed after months of political negotiations chaired by the former UN Secretary General, and a panel of Eminent African Personalities, which sought to put in place, measures to stop future deterioration of security and political stability in Kenya.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga formed unity government after Mr Odinga accused President Kibaki of rigging the December 2007 elections.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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