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| CJPC Chairman, Archbishop Okoth |
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) has criticized the recent motion passed by parliament seeking Kenya’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and termed the decision as voting for impunity.
In their Press Release issued on 10th September, the Chairman of the Commission, Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth said that voting to withdraw Kenya from the Rome statute would hinder the court’s ability to investigate crime in Kenya now and in the future. Below is the full Statement:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE KENYA CONFERENCE OF
CATHOLIC BISHOPS - JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION
Voting to pull out of ICC was a voting for impunity
“When Justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but terror to evil doers - Proverbs 21:15"
We, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Justice and Peace Commission, are deeply concerned over recent happenings in the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Kenya. We, wish to state as follows:
1) That the passing of the motion to withdraw Kenya from the Rome Statutes was a vote for impunity, one that could hamper the court's ability to investigate crimes in Kenya now and in future. One that strips the Kenyan people of one of the most important human rights protections and sets the stage for crimes to be committed with impunity. It is a dangerous move.
2) That in the spirit of protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law, the Kenyan parliament, the Senate and the government should note that a 'Guilty or not guilty' verdict is all that Kenya needs from the ICC, and that withdrawing from the Rome Statute amounts to running away from our international commitments. Historically it is on record and we remind our members of parliament, that the decision to go to ICC as opposed to local tribunal was passed by the 10th Parliament.
3) That withdrawing from the ICC will hurt the reputation of Kenya as a nation that supports international human rights and the rule of law. It also jeopardizes international relations and might easily isolate the country from the rest of the world.
4) That as promised in the elections campaigns, the government must cooperate fully with the ICC to enable it ~ complete its processes. Members of parliament as law- makers ought to know that a person is innocent until proved guilty. As earlier stated by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, it is our duty to pray that the outcome of the Ice process will be according to God's will. Already the fears that the two were going to be away at the same time have been resolved as per today's dailies.
5) That the current 11th parliament has already set a bad precedence in the recent past by moving a motion not to be classified as state officers, and legislating on laws that have negative impacts on the common Kenyan like the V AT Act 2013. As the Shepherds of the people of God and the Church in Kenya, we call for an economy that is at the service of the poor and strongly denounce an unjust economic order which has led to disturbing levels of poverty.
6) Guided by the principles of common good, rights and responsibility, good stewardship, the State ought to enact laws that protect and promote human dignity, ensure that Kenyans have access to food security, safe drinking water, basic health service, affordable education and security (Conference's Pastoral letter of 3rd May, 2(13). The action taken is injuring mostly the common men and women who form the majority in Kenya who cannot afford their essential needs.
We urge our Members of Parliament to place the interests of the country ahead of their own, and to desist from passing motions that would inflict grave harm on the country's present and future. God bless you all, and God Bless Kenya.
Signed by:
Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth
Chairman
KCCB - CATHOLIC JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION
Dated: 10th September, 2013