Tears, pain, helplessness…name them. These words depict the situation Kenya was in during the post-election violence that rocked the country in 2007-2008. People being butchered like animals, women being raped, property being destroyed and people being displaced are some of the things that transpired lest we forget. Not even the most sacred places were spared. Men, women and children who went to seek refuge in a church (kiambaa) were burnt to ashes amidst desperate screams for help.
The ICC was our last hope when Kenya could not form a tribunal to bring to book those who were behind the atrocities committed during the post-election violence. Justice at last, that is what we all said when Moreno Ocampo, ICC prosecutor came into the country to commence investigations. The cloud of darkness surrounding the country began to lift as the process of prosecuting those responsible began.
More than 6 years down the line, the ICC cases have collapsed and people are now celebrating because the ‘Ocampo 6’ have been set free by the ICC. Our leaders are going round the country holding ‘praying rallies’ on the same grounds that people were killed and probably turning restlessly in their graves because justice will never be served to them. Those who suffered permanent disabilities watch from a distance with dejected faces as people celebrate their denial of justice.
Even as this goes on, African presidents are still pushing for mass withdrawal from the ICC or rather they want to amend the Rome Statute to give immunity to sitting presidents and senior government officials. Unbelievable right? Was the ICC really meant for the common mwananchi like you and me? Africa, Kenya included needs saving. We are drowning in deep waters with no one to save. Our leaders are selfish and they only want to use innocent and naive Kenyans to achieve their own selfish ambitions.
My fellow Kenyans, let us not follow our leaders blindly, let us not make ethnicity blind us to the point of not...