Support for a local tribunal to try suspects of PEV

Today, with the naming by the ICC prosector of the six suspects who bear the greatest responsibility for the post election violence, we move one step closer to long lasting peace. The three steps are:

1. To cease the violence after the elections
2. To prosecute those responsible for the violence.
3. To put in place structures that ensure the violence will never happen again read local tribunal

While we recognize that the six suspects remain innocent until they are proven guilty, it is of absolute importance to the peace of this country that they unreservedly submit themselves to the courts' process. Any  attempt to subvert the path of justice will only portray these suspects as guilty. Ultimately to determine culpability under the ICC's mandate the question will be were the attacks spontaneous or preplanned. The fact is that nearly 1,200 Kenyan's lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of others their property and homes. This is an undeniable fact, and someone must pay for this crime to ensure future peace.

In addition, there are those who are celebrating that they have not been included in the list read out by the chief prosecutor, Luis-Moreno Ocampo. This shows that we still lack sufficient structures to deal with getting justice for the victims of PEV. Although some people have not been named, it does not mean that the six are solely responsible for PEV, only that they bear the greatest responsibility. It is completely imperative that we move quickly to prosecute all others who contributed to the PEV through our own court systems. This is a duty that we cannot outsource to the ICC, we must act quickly, decisively and fairly to prevent any feeling of relief or security for those that are guilty but have not been named.