US criticizes Kenya as Hillary Clinton due to arrive

Aug 4, 2009, 17:57 GMT

Nairobi - The United States on Tuesday criticized Kenya for failing to set up a tribunal to try those suspected of orchestrating the deadly violence that followed disputed polls in December 2007.

The criticism came as US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was due to arrive in the East African nation.

The Kenyan government last week said it had halted efforts to set up a special tribunal and would instead rely on the current judicial system and expand the role of its Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

Kenya's judicial system is hopelessly overloaded and notoriously corrupt.

'Merely ... establishing a mechanism within the existing judicial structure is not a credible approach in the eyes of the Kenyan people and the international community,' a statement released in Nairobi said.

'Failure by Kenya to take ownership of the process of accountability at all levels will call into serious question whether the political will exists to carry out fundamental reforms,' the statement added.

Over 1,500 people died in tribal clashes that followed Prime Minister Raila Odinga's claims that President Mwai Kibaki stole the December 2007 presidential elections. Odinga became prime minister in a peace deal brokered by Kofi Annan.

Clinton is due to meet both men on Wednesday and is expected to push them on setting up a new constitution and dealing with the post- election violence.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has urged Clinton to stress the importance of bringing those responsible for the violence to book.

'Kenyans are losing faith in their politicians,' said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. 'The government's failure to ensure justice for the victims of the post-election violence threatens to undermine Kenya's stability and impede its economic development.'

Annan stipulated that Kenya must set up a special tribunal or the names of those suspected of orchestrating the violence would be sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Annan recently forwarded the envelope, which is believed to contain the names of high-ranking politicians, to the ICC.

Clinton is beginning an 11-day tour of seven African nations that US officials say demonstrates Africa is a foreign policy priority for the Obama administration.