National Council of Churches of Kenya

Media urged to be objective on Ocampo six reporting The Star, MONDAY, 02 JANUARY 2012

BY IBRAHIM ORUKO

Elders from Kuresoi in Nakuru have warned the media to be careful when reporting on the International Criminal Court cases involving six Kenyans. Reacting to Friday’s Star lead story, the elders warned there was a build up of tension in Rift Valley ahead of the ICC confirmation ruling on the Ocampo six.

The Star reported that a recent ICC ruling on Callixte Mbarushimana has given the Ocampo six hope that cases against them may be dismissed. “There is brewing tension in the region and it is important for the media to be careful in the way it is reporting the matter so as it does not whip ethnic animosity,” Alex Tum of Alex Tum Hope Foundation told the Star.

“The people feel that should the aspirants be locked out of the race by the ICC verdict, their communities would be isolated during the 2012 general election,” a statement from an organisation conducting civic education on the ICC process said. “We have held dialogue sessions, peace rallies and sporting events at the grassroots in Kuresoi district and anxiety is palpable,” Tum said.

The Alex Tum Hope Foundation is part of 31 organisations in the region that joined forces with the NCCK to review the year and plan for more integrated efforts towards long lasting peace in the region. Tum said Nakuru county deserves special focus because it is one of the hot spots. Kuresoi was the most fluid and more efforts must be put in place to ensure peace prevails in the region by all means. “If Kuresoi is peaceful, the whole country will be at peace,” said Tum.