Business thrives where there is peace and justice

Professor Muigai is the only Kenyan appointed as a judge of the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights and serves as a special rapporteur for the United Nations (UN).

He felt unfairly beaten in his bid for the lead legal transaction position for the IPO after his consortium’s offer documents were opened unprocedurally.

For such an incident to occur with regard to an IPO that attracted public attention the way it did showed that someone somewhere was very confident that they could disregard procedural rules and get away with it.

Although Treasury resolved the issue and the IPO went on smoothly thereafter, it was still an indication of just how low the country had sunk.

The arrival of Ocampo and the consequent opening up of investigations into the violence of 2007 and 2008 will serve as a symbolic gesture.

No one is above the law and even the mighty and powerful will face justice.

It is unfortunate that Kenya sank so low just five years after the nation was engulfed in jubilation after an historic election in 2002.

Nonetheless, it is time to pick up the pieces and move on.

If Rwanda could do it in a decade, despite the fact that they sank much lower than we did, then Kenyan certainly can.

For its own good therefore, the business community should be at the forefront of the push to end impunity and should not shy away from ensuring that peace and justice are achieved after the violence of 2007 and 2008.

For a good many, the financial losses incurred during that period are justification enough for welcoming Ocampo.

But they should also make peace and justice a priority.

Without justice there cannot be lasting peace.

Without lasting peace there can be no business stability in Kenya.

Mr Muriuki is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.