The Hague, here we come...finally

It has been such a long time since I blogged- and there are so many reasons to it.

Most importantly is that there has been nothing much to write home about.

Two, there has been almost nothing interesting to deserve a space in my blog page.

Nonetheless, there have been a few things here and there that I guess to an extent deserved some small time attention- and it all has nothing to do with our entertainment scene or total crazy-wild politicians.

See, since the ICC Pre- Trial II Chambers announced that some Kenyans needed to answer some charges against humanity at The Hague, so many things have occurred.

One is that there has high increase in fuel prices, steady rise on food prices, lack of water in our taps and insane hike of matatu (psv’s) fares. For hecks sake we don’t even have condoms! I wonder who is wearing them.

Usually, like you may have noticed, Notes and Quotes does not do this (shiznit) sorry...this kind of stuff- but for the sake of a crying nation and like I had mentioned – some little attention for our six brothers, some rules must be bent.

So here it is, on the seventh of April 2011, six Kenyans will be facing the dreaded Ocampo at The Hague. Actually as we speak, they have already left.

These Kenyans are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of the Civil Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura, suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto and Tinderet Member of Parliament Henry Kosgey who stepped aside to face charges of abuse of office.

Others required to make an initial appearance before the judges at The Hague are former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang of Kass FM.

Before today and several days ago, there was very little chat about these six Kenyans, until the Pre- Trial Chambers II found them with cases to answer.

To say Kenyan politics has never witnessed such a tumultuous politics would be an understatement.

Anyway, let’s stick with The Hague story. So the six had been summoned and just immediately after that, the Kenyan government through its vice president took a very ‘honourable’ task of globe- trotting the world with his shuttle diplomacy – trying to influence other dictatorial states like Zimbabwe, Uganda among others in backing Kenya for a deferral.

He went to almost every continent, country- even in Libya where the leader is now being smoked out from his tents by the Benghazi brothers.

Unfortunately, for our VP the day he was in New York seeking to meet the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is the same day the ICC also gave summons for the six to appear before the court.

During this shuttle diplomacy- so much to the dismay and discomfort of many Kenyans, Kibaki was stoking another fire- by nominating Justice Alnashir Visram to be Chief Justice, Prof Githu Muigai (Attorney General), lawyer Kioko Kilukumi (Director of Public Prosecutions) and William Kirwa as Controller of Budget.

When he did that I assume he was wishing that while the VP is running wild to the wild Wild West - like some headless chicken, his nominations would prove to the world that indeed there are reforms going in Kenya and a local tribunal wouldn’t be so bad for the six Hague bound.

Too bad for the old man, he forgot about Sir Newton’s third law of motion...for very action, there is equal and opposite reaction- the prime minister claimed he was not consulted- and the temperatures rose... and rose... and rose...so high for a moment I thought...here we go again- 2008 post elections violence now pre- elections 2011 season one.

Nevertheless, whatever goes up must always come down. The temperatures finally did but only after a long tolerance of political bickering, name calling, public spitting and butt kicking.

On the 22 February 2011 the president swallowed what I would call as the most humble pie of his life- much bigger than the one he swallowed in 2008.

He withdrew his controversial appointees. (Bad things seem to happen to this man from Othaya- in February).

In the meantime, two of the Ocampo six- William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta who had been the president most vocal lieutenants went dead quiet.

It finally dawned on the president and the lieutenants that The Hague case is getting nearer and there is a high possibility that they will be going after all.

So what did he do?

This is where it gets interesting.

See, after the withdrawal of the controversial nominees, Kenyans sighed relief.

Finally there was going to be some political peace. It was there yes. Not just for long.

Kenyan government went ahead and hired British lawyers to represent it at The Hague.

The big question was that why did the government choose these two gentlemen over our own Githus and Kiokos, who had been touted as the best of the very best Kenyan lawyers?

As it is, Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC and Rodney Dixon, QC will be representing us come 7th April, 2011.

Sometimes not even your wife or husband is enough. You will need some foreign activity at home. Talk of desperate times.

Finally, did you hear our special programs minister Esther Murugi urging women to strip if Uhuru Kenyatta is detained at The Hague? Can’t wait. On a second thought, some of us are already naked madam minister! What should we do?