ICC verdict: What Kenyans are saying on facebook

Finally the day came for the much publicized Ocampo six cases to take a new turn. As Kenyans waited with baited breath the social media was awash with messages calling for calm and others inviting divine intervention.

Prior to the verdict Kenyans on face book poured out their opinions and called for calm.

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In one thread on facebook one fan, who has impersonified Medical Services Minister, Peter Anyang Nyong’o, quipped: “What violence is the media anticipating after I.C.C verdict? Even the Internal Security? Cheap propaganda .Kenyans are peaceful.”

The statement ignited a plethora of comments from his facebook fans. One George Ndege replied: “The media are doing business; creating anxiety make them sell more so peace loving Kenyans should not take them seriously.”

And Migosi Olwa Riek Siri said, “We call it agenda setting...the media should not poison our minds and only present to us what is negative all the time please!”|

Apparently many social media enthusiasts have not taken kindly insinuations that the ICC verdict would spark a fresh round of violence. One reader, Will Levy adds his voice saying, “The media is working for some individuals to arm twist ICC, it will never happen, Kenya has about 40 million people and a mere six suspects cannot hold the country back. We are peaceful.

Another facebooker going by the name Vuka na Saitoti 2012, says, “Peace is paramount ahead of  Monday’s ICC verdict. Vuka Salama,” which is a follow up to an earlier comment: “It’s absurd for any normal person to think you can reap from another person’s misfortune ... I do not subscribe to that ideology at all, to which one of the fans, NandiSatalion Chemitan Tanuireplied: “True Mheshimiwa (Honourable) ,that is  why we are one country. Hague or no Hague Kenya has to move on.

According to the verdict read by ICC pre-trial chamber Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, presidential aspirants William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang will be committed to full trial.

Former police commissioner Ali Hassan and Henry Kosgey’s cases were  not confirmed. The judge however cautioned that incase the ICC prosecutor avails more information incriminating the acquitted two, their cases would be confirmed.

As expected, Judge Hans-Peter Kaul dissented the ruling favoured by Ekaterina and another judge, Cuno Tarfusser.

“In reaching our decision, we have reviwed all evidence to ascertain the necessary threshold had been reached. It’s our hope that this decision will bring peace to Kenya,” said Jugde Trendafilova.

She added: “On the case against Mr Ruto and Mr Uhuru, the chamber was satisfied that they are criminally responsible for the alleged crimes as indirect perpetrators of the crimes. But the Chamber does not believe that the Kenya Police was involved in the crimes. It is for this reason why we did not find the evidence against Mr Ali enough to sustain the charges… the chamber found substantial ground to believe there was an attack against civilian residents in Nakuru and Naivasha, in particular those belonging to Luos, Luhya and Kalenjin tribes.”

President Mwai Kibaki

In an official statement aired via the national TV cannel KBC, President Mwai Kibaki called for calm saying he had instructed the Attorney General to constitute a legal team to scrutinize the ICC ruling and advice the Government accordingly on the way forward.