Kenya allows the ICC to open office - China to support Kenya at the UN over Bashir

TODAY, according to a report just in from the Associated Press, Kenya granted the ICC immunity from legal challenges, tax exemptions and other privileges in a letter signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula. The report says:

The move comes only a week after Kenya hosted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a ceremony for Kenya's new constitution.

The ICC registrar has been in Kenya since Wednesday to seek government assurances it will cooperate with the court and educate the public about how it operates.

Full story here below. Note the word I have highlighted in red and the following Quote of the Day from this site's parent blog, Sudan Watch, 21 July 2010 - Ocampo announces ICC's verdict before indictment:

"According to my understanding of the decision, the [International Criminal] Court did not find [Sudanese] President Bashir guilty of these crimes. Rather, it considered that there were reasonable grounds to suppose that he might be guilty. This is an important distinction. While the Prosecutor will argue, in court and in public, that Bashir is guilty, I am surprised that he is announcing a verdict of the Court before there has been an indictment (so far we have an arrest warrant — any indictment will follow a confirmation of charges hearing) let alone a trial." - Dr. Alex de Waal OBE, Making Sense of Sudan, 18 July 2010

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Kenya allows Int'l Criminal Court to open office
By TOM MALITI (AP) – Friday, 03 September 2010

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya on Friday allowed the International Criminal Court to open an office in the country, a development that comes after Kenya's commitment to the court came into question when the nation hosted Sudan's indicted leader last week.

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo is investigating top Kenyan leaders and businesspeople for their roles in the country's December 2007 to February 2008 post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people.

On Friday, Kenya granted the ICC immunity from legal challenges, tax exemptions and other privileges in a letter signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula.

The move comes only a week after Kenya hosted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a ceremony for Kenya's new constitution.

Al-Bashir faces charges of genocide and crimes against humanity at the ICC stemming from the violence in Sudan's Darfur region. Despite being a party to the statute that created the ICC, Kenya did not arrest al-Bashir, arguing that such a move would destabilize Sudan.

That decision provoked an international outcry, including words of rebuke from President Barack Obama, and it raised doubts about the country's willingness to hand over Kenyan suspects expected to soon be charged by the ICC.

The ICC does not have its own police to enforce arrest warrants and it relies on member states such as Kenya to execute them.
Kenyan Cabinet leaders, including Wetangula, met with ICC Registrar Silvana Arbia on Friday.

"We have agreed to comply with every aspect of the (ICC) request for the privileges and immunity which their officers require to be able to undertake their work," said Minister of State for Internal Security George Saitoti, who chairs the Cabinet subcommittee on the ICC.

"I trust that the government of Kenya will fully respect its obligations under the Rome Statute," which established the ICC, Arbia said after receiving the letter.

The ICC registrar has been in Kenya since Wednesday to seek government assurances it will cooperate with the court and educate the public about how it operates.

Moreno Ocampo has said he believes crimes against humanity were committed during Kenya's political violence.

The court allowed him to open an investigation in April and he has said he expects the investigation to conclude by the end of this year. Moreno Ocampo has said he expects to charge up to roughly a half-dozen people who allegedly directed the violence.

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China to shield Kenya at the UN over Bashir
Report from PPS Capital FM - 03 September 2010 - excerpt:

NAIROBI, Kenya - China on Friday declared support for Kenya's decision to invite Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to attend the promulgation of the new constitution in Nairobi last week.

During talks with President Mwai Kibaki, visiting vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Congress (NPC) Chen Zhili pledged China's support for Kenya if the country is subject of discussion at the United Nations Security Council over the issue.

"Kenya as a neighbor and guarantor to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on the Sudan require the support and not condemnation by the international community in her efforts to broker peace between the Southern and Northern Sudan.", Ms Zhili said.

She expressed appreciation to President Kibaki and the Kenya government for the pivotal role played in brokering peace in Sudan and the horn of Africa.

Zhili who is also the NPC Chairperson of all Women's Federation, assured President Kibaki that China would provide the necessary support towards peace and stability in the horn of Africa. [...]

Kenya: President Pushes for More Chinese Investment

Kenya: President Pushes for More Chinese Investment
From Daily Nation via AllAfrica, Sunday, 02 May 2010:

Shanghai — Kenyans can expect more involvement through funding and investment in development projects by China, with President Kibaki's visit to the country, where he invited the Chinese business people to invest in the country.

President Kibaki held talks with officials of China-Africa Development (CAD) Fund who paid him a courtesy call, on Sunday, during which the team, led by the chief executive officer, Mr Chi Jian Xin, informed him on its willingness to partner with private and public companies.

This would be in supporting projects that can be funded through the official bilateral framework between Kenya and China. Among the projects pointed out for consideration, High-grand Falls and Coal-powered electricity generation projects. Later, the President met with Pan Jilu, President of Hydro-China Guiyang Corporation.

The company, a Hydropower and wind power generation, transmission and distribution Company, has been involved in Nandi Multi-purpose Hydro Power project along the Yala River, Bubisa wind power generation project in Marsabit and Ewaso Nyiro South Multipurpose project.

President Kibaki also met and held discussions with Mr Zhang Ren Jun, Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation. ZTE is a global Telecommunications, Equipment and Networks provider which has been engaged in Western Kenya and North Rift Fibre Optical Cabling extending to the Southern Sudan border.

President Kibaki encouraged the Chinesese business community to invest in Kenya, assuring them that the government is doing everything possible to guarantee a friendly environment. He directed the ministries of Finance, Regional Development and Energy to organise consultative meetings with companies interested in Kenya's development needs and work out modalities of implementing identified projects.

President Kibaki also opened the Kenya Stand in the African Pavilion and attended the official opening of the Expo 2010 Shanghai, China. He also held bilateral talks with the host, President Hu Jintao, during which agreements on funding of Vision 2030 flagship projects were reached.

Among the projects the two leaders agreed upon is the construction of the Lamu Port as well as new areas of development cooperation including health and education where more scholarships will be given for Kenyans to study in China. During the bilateral talks, President Hu Jintao announced the extension of a Sh1.2 billion grant towards Kenya's development projects.

China pledges $7m (£4.4m) for Kenya infrastructure

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi says it is important to build up Africa's infrastructure. In November, China's government said it would offer Africa $10bn (£6.3bn) in concessional loans over the next three years.

China pledges funds for Kenya infrastructure
From BBC News 08:13 GMT, Thursday, 7 January 2010:

China says it will give a $7m (£4.4m) grant to help fund infrastructure development projects in Kenya.

The announcement came at the start of the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's latest Africa tour.

His schedule includes visits to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said China has offered to help develop a second port at Lamu which will be connected to Ethiopia, Southern Sudan and Rwanda.

Correspondents said this would provide a route to export Chinese oil from Southern Sudan.

China will also help upgrade a railroad linking Kenya's Mombasa port and the Ugandan capital, said a statement from President Mwai Kibaki's office.

"For Africa to further take off, it is very important to build up the infrastructure so that African countries can conduct intra-regional trade on a massive scale," Mr Yang told reporters.

In November, China's government said it would offer Africa $10bn (£6.3bn) in concessional loans over the next three years.