MOPA mobilizes ICC Coalition protest march
The Government of Kenya’s reactions to the naming of the leading suspects of the PEV by the ICC Chief Prosecutor surprised many observers in and out of Kenya. In a gesture that consolidated its reputation as a bastion of official impunity, the government:
- threatened to withdraw from the Rome Statute
- discussed possibility of employ public funds in the defence of the six suspected masterminds of the 2007/2008 Post-Election Violence;
- utilized public funds for a massive futile shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to lobby African leaders to push for a Referral of the ICC cases to Kenya.
It became necessary to mobilize citizens to contest and protest the government’s insensitivity to the views of Kenyans’ support for the ICC process, and the mockery of spending public funds to protect well-to-do political elite at a time when Kenyans were dying of starvation and the IDPs remained unsettled and uncared for. Subsequently, MOPA, together with Kenyans for Peace with Truth & Justice (KPTJ), Kituo cha Sheria among other civil Society partners came together to rally support of the citizens to stand up against this blatant impunity by the political class. MOPA was part of the technical committee that coordinated this entire process. MOPA mobilized its grassroots members (both institutional and individual) within Nairobi to take part in the quick-response peaceful protest.
The march which began at 2.00pm at the Freedom Corner and ended at Parliament buildings.
This event was part of the consultative meetings/Public Forums on the ICC as indicated in the MOPA work plan. During the event, T-shirts labeled ‘Yes to ICC, No to Impunity’ were distributed to the protesters. MOPA’s networks in Nairobi were instrumental in ensuring a credible turn out.
