Ocampo should name names!

Are we surprised that some of Kenya's celebrated politicians are getting itchy just thinking of the day that Luis Moreno-Ocampo comes calling with his warrants? The recent pronouncements by Ephraim Maina (PNU, Mathira) and his PNU accomplices brings home the point that the ICC prosecutor is proceeding apace with his investigations into those who bear the greatest responsibility for the mayhem following the 2007 general election. However, he should disabuse himself of the notion that Ocampo is the stalking horse for PNU's bugbears in the ODM camp. 

It is an open secret that many of the people who would bear the greatest responsibility for the mayhem are serving and former members of the security apparatus of this country and it would behoove Mr. Maina to consider the fact that many of them were appointed from 'one particular community', so his exhortations for the investigations to be 'fair and unbiased' are mere hot air for the benefit of his constituents. This is not to say that only policemen and their bosses were responsible for the violence. Far from it. Individuals in both camps of government were at the forefront of fomenting trouble and it would be ideal if all of them, bar none, were arraigned before legitimate courts of law to answer for their crimes.

However, this is Kenya and the more things change, the more the remain the same. It is now a month since we overwhelmingly ratified the new constitution and Justice Minister Kilonzo has been attempting some mealy-mouthed sophistry to see that all the prosecutions in relation to the 2007/08 violence are handled in Kenyan courts. Kenyans have spoken loudly and clearly: we do not wish the prosecutions to take place in Kenya, unless the reforms that are taking place in the Judiciary give us credible magistrates and judges whom we can repose trust in. Especially when it comes to those who bear the greatest responsibility, we would like to see them answering to charges at The Hague because we do not trust them to see the process through without attempting to subvert it through their great wealth or their militias who stand at the ready to do their bidding.

Let s not forget that thousands of Kenyans were murdered at the urging of political and business leaders or that millions, perhaps billions, of shillings of property were destroyed and that the international image of Kenya as a sanctuary of peace and tranquility was shattered during the mayhem. The men and women responsible for this sad state of affairs rewarded themselves by occupying high offices and doing everything in their power to prevent the day of reckoning. That day is nigh and it cannot be wished away on the basis that only one set of criminals is being investigated.

Obviously, we cannot wish away the role of politics in all this. Kenyans are already being primed for the 2012 general election and many of the perceived suspects are gearing up to contest senate and governor positions. Ocampo could throw a spanner in the works if he were to name names before the date of the election. I dare say he must name them now or forever keep his peace. Nothing is served by keeping these names secret any longer, especially the names of those contained in Justice Waki's now famous envelope. 

The speculation surrounding the identities of Justice Waki's suspects is doing more harm than good and even though they have yet to be convicted of any crime, knowledge of their identities will not prejudice the country against them. After all, the political class has been indicted a hundred different ways for their greed, sophistry and love of self. It is time Kenyans started to distance themselves from these individuals and the revelation of their identities will serve a greater good. Kenyans should have the opportunity, nay the right, to approach the 2012 elections knowing where their political masters stand in relation to human rights. Ocampo should name names.