Wednesday 6 April 2011

Ocampo 6 at the Hague, finally

The Ocampo 6 as they have come to be infamously known have finally gone off to The Hague to stand trial.  I know the outcome may not be what most Kenyans expect, being a former magistrate, I know not all cases are cut and dry, and proving a case takes more than "everybody knows he did it!".  Some may come out of the Hague smelling distinctly of lavender, whilst others may be stripped of their designer perfume to release the honk underneath.

Whatever the outcome, one thing I am grateful for is the genius given to Judge Waki in including the Hague option.  True, as a dissenting opinion from the Pre-Trial Chamber pointed out, Kenya's case is not one that warrants the ICC, but the fact that it is there means Kenya's usual trial and error system will be spared the pressure of trying these ones.  None of their kind have ever been found on the wrong here before, let us see if someone at the Hague will say what we Kenyans have been hoping to say all along. 
"You just can't do this to someone and get away with it, you have to be held accountable."
"You may not have held the gun or the machete, but you spurred someone else on to do it, you are just as culpable."
"It doesn't matter that you have a flag on your car or that your dad was our founding father, answer the questions asked."

Finally, it is not "our people" being persecuted, it is individual names on charge sheets, in the dock.  Whatever happens, how ever it ends, as far as I'm concerned, its ended here.  Never again shall we go back.  Now, Kenya's Judiciary needs to style up to be spared the shame of having someone else do a job that you are completely capable of doing.  We do not doubt that you CAN do it, what we don't know is if you WILL do it, so its easier to outsource. 

Ocampo 6 (and all your 40 bridesmaids who have nothing better than to come wipe your sniffing noses and your trembling hands) all the best.  My prayer is that God's will for you will be done.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

I am new here, but here we go!

Hello world!

I have always wanted to start blogging, and today I decided let me take the plunge!  You know, in Swahili there is a saying, "Ushauyavulia maji, basi yaoge!"  loosely translated means, once you have taken off your clothes intending to take a bath, you may as well go ahead and take a bath!  Meaning to do a blog and actually doing one are two distinctly different things, and I'm glad after years of standing infront of the bathwater with my clothes off, I have finally taken the loofah and soaped it!

I am here, I am happy, I am blessed and I shall be seeing and saying more in the future.  God bless everyone, and have a fabulous day!