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Kenya delays vote on special tribunal following bribery allegations

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Kenyan Parliament on Tuesday delayed voting on a constitutional amendment that would create a special tribunal for the country, following allegations by MP Gitobu Imanyara that government officials tried to bribe or blackmail MPs into voting for the bill. President Mwai Kibaki recently made an appeal for MPs to support the court, which would be responsible for trying those suspected of taking part in violence following the country's disputed December 2007 elections, but groups including the National Council of Churches of Kenya have called for the proposed amendment to be heavily scrutinized in light of the allegations. Those who oppose creating the special tribunal also argue that the country's judicial system would not be independent enough to consider the cases properly. Others, including International Commission of Jurists-Kenya, have continued to support its creation. Voting on the amendment has been postponed until next week, and if the tribunal does not begin hearings by March 1, a list of suspects will be sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution. Approximately 1,500 people were killed in violence that followed allegations of fraud in the country's presidential election. The disputed tribunal was proposed to a commission charged with investigating the violence after Kibaki and opposition candidate Raila Odinga approved a power-sharing agreement designed to quiet the unrest.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).