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16-22 October 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Kenya
Posted on October 26, 2015

Compiled by Pierre-Philippe Turnbull

  1. Ruto, the Jubilee Government,  and the ICC
  2. Al-Shabaab

 

1. Ruto, the Jubilee Government,  and the ICC
Privately Owned Media

Ignore ICC judges over Ruto prayer rallies, says Uhuru (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, October 22 2015)

  • President Uhuru Kenyatta has endorsed the weekly political prayer rallies for his deputy, Mr William Ruto, and asked Jubilee MPs to ignore warnings by ICC judges.
  • The President asked friendly countries to support Kenya and its leadership in their efforts to reconcile and unite the country.
  • Kenyan leaders have been praying for Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang, who are facing charges at the ICC.
  • Kenyatta finally highlighted the various achievements of the Jubilee government over the past three years.

 

AU urges Hague court to overturn ruling on recanted evidence (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, October 20 2015)

  • The African Union has urged the ICC’s Appeal Chamber to overturn a ruling that allowed the use recanted statements as evidence against Deputy President William Ruto.
  • Members of the AU commission said the application of the rule had placed the rights of Mr Ruto and his co-accused Joshua arap Sang in “detriment”.
  • He added: “AUC respectfully invites this Chamber to rule that the Impugned Decision’s application of amended Rule 68 to the present case would be retroactive, detrimental to the accused and in contravention of the ICC Statute as well as the legitimate expectations of African States Parties in the 12th ASP Session,”

 

State-Owned Media

Uhuru supports prayer rallies on ICC cases (K­enyan Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, State-Owned Radio Station, October 20 2015)

  • President Uhuru Kenyatta has told the International Criminal Court (ICC) to respect the right of Kenyans to hold prayer meetings.
  • He argued that Kenyans understand the benefit and strength of prayers and will not be intimidated or gagged by the president of the ICC Trial Chamber, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji or anybody else. He also asked “friendly countries” to support Kenya in its claim.
  • Kenyan leaders have been holding rallies to pray for Deputy President William Ruto and former Radio presenter Joshua arap Sang who are facing charges at the ICC.

 

Jubilee accuses ICC of changing the rules midway cases (K­enyan Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, State-Owned Radio Station, October 17 2015)

  • Defiant Jubilee lawmakers say they are not going to relent in opposing the use of recanted evidence in the ICC cases facing Deputy President William Ruto and former Radio Journalist Joshua arap Sang.
  • The lawmakers, however, maintain their calls should not in way be misconstrued to mean they do not respect The Hague-based court.
  • The jubilee team is accusing the ICC of changing the rules midway by applying the law that allows use of recanted evidence.
  • Furthermore, while the ICC also discouraged against the ongoing prayer meetings, the ruling coalition says their prayers are still on course. More prayers will be held this following weekend (October 24-25)

 

ICC cautions politicians against interference in Kenyan cases (K­enyan Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, State-Owned Radio Station, October 16 2015)

  • The International Criminal Court has cautioned Kenyan politicians and the media against the clamor to influence the outcome of proceedings in the Ruto and Sang cases at The Hague-based court.
  • The Court also warned media to refrain from convoluted debates on this subject-matter
2. Al-Shabaab

Over 700 Al-Shabaab recruits have abandoned Al-Shabaab and returned to Kenya (The Ethiopian Government)

  •  “Report prepared by the International Organization for Migration,  the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims and the Kenyan Interior Ministry says the majority defected from Al-Shabaab when it became clear that the deals to entice them to join the movement turned out not to be as lucrative as promised.”
  • Others also took the offer of amnesty from the government.
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