Word on the street

Your views on fugitive Kabuga With the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) mandate ending in December this year, the pressure on Kenya to conduct active search to apprehend Felecien Kabuga, key Genocide suspect is building up.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Your views on fugitive Kabuga

With the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) mandate ending in December this year, the pressure on Kenya to conduct active search to apprehend Felecien Kabuga, key Genocide suspect is building up.

The ICTR believes that Kabuga could be hiding in Nairobi enjoying protection of powerful personalities in exchange for money, a claim Nairobi has repeatedly denied.

ALPHONSE RUTAZIGWA went out to discover what other people on streets think about Kenya’s commitment to arrest Kabuga, who has been on run for 14 years.

"There have been consistent reports from ICTR investigators that Kabuga is using his money to buy his freedom.

The freezing of his bank account by Nairobi High Court is a testimony that the fugitive must have stayed in Nairobi at one point. There is no smoke without fire.”

Jean Marie Munyentwari, 26, a law student at NUR

"I think ICTR is dragging its feet because with financial capacity and investigative personnel given to them by the United Nation, they should arrest this man. If they believe Kabuga is in Nairobi, they should hold Kenya accountable.”

Ingrid Kayitesi, 31, an accountant
 
"ICTR and UN must put more pressure on Nairobi and arrest Kabuga before the mandate ends. Kenya as a country should also be told that it’s gaining nothing in long run by protecting the mass murderer.”

Peter Karema, 25, a technician

e this feeling that ICTR has powers to force Nairobi to come clean on Kabuga.”

Businge Innocent, 38, a shopkeeper

"A five million dollar bounty which was placed on Kabuga’s head by the UN is too tempting. I am confident that one day, a saleout will reveal Kabuga’s hideout.”

Uwacu Judith, 29, a secondary teacher

"Countries where these criminals are believed to be hiding must apprehend them. Living together with these criminals is nurturing a culture of impunity. Let everybody gets his or her day in court.”

Cyuzuzo Albert, 30, a shoe shiner

Ends